A method and a device for producing a component from a fiber composite material. The method includes introducing multiple layers of fibers impregnated with a matrix onto an inner mold, placing a membrane sealed against an outer mold onto the fibers impregnated with the matrix, such that a cavity extending along the shell surface of the outer mold forms between the outer mold and the membrane, and applying a temperature-controllable pressure fluid to the cavity at a temperature greater than the melting point of the matrix and at a pressure greater than the ambient pressure. To produce a component having at least one reinforcing layer, at least one reinforcing layer having fibers oriented in a predominantly parallel manner is placed locally onto a portion of a side of a the base layer facing the outer mold with the aid of an insertion device and a membrane with an average surface roughness of below 1.0 μm, preferably below 0.1 μm, subsequently exerts a set pressure in the cavity on the component.

Provided are a super water repellent polymer hierarchical structure, a heat exchanger having super water repellency, and a manufacturing method thereof A super water repellent polymer hierarchical structure can be simply and repeatedly manufactured by using only a method for utilizing a super water repellent hierarchical structure and mechanically molding a polymer material thereon. In addition, a heat exchanger having super water repellency can be provided by providing super water repellency on the fin surface of a heat exchanger by using a dip method and vacuum drying.

A molding die and a molding method are provided, which allow high-cycle manufacturing of molded bodies of a thermoplastic resin or thermoplastic resin-fiber composite material, thereby improving productivity. Molding is performed using a molding die including a plurality of die portions that form a cavity in which a molded body is molded, the molding die including: a first temperature adjusting unit disposed in the vicinity of the cavity surface and capable of at least cooling the cavity surface; and a second temperature adjusting unit disposed on a side of the first temperature adjusting unit opposite from the cavity surface and capable of at least heating the cavity surface, wherein a distance L0 from the cavity surface to the first temperature adjusting unit and a distance L1 from the cavity surface to a surface of the corresponding die portion opposite from the cavity surface satisfy the relationship: (L1/L0)>3.

A method for rapid heat cycle compression molding comprises placing an assemblage of feed constituents in a mold, placing the mold between two hot platens of a hot press, heating the mold by pressing the two hot platens against the mold, placing the mold between two cold platens of a cold press, cooling the mold by pressing the two cold platens against the mold, and ejecting the part from the mold.

A method for rapid heat cycle compression molding comprises placing an assemblage of feed constituents in a mold, placing the mold between two hot platens of a hot press, heating the mold by pressing the two hot platens against the mold, placing the mold between two cold platens of a cold press, cooling the mold by pressing the two cold platens against the mold, and ejecting the part from the mold.

A method is specified for producing a structural component, in particular for an aircraft, ground vehicle, or watercraft, or for a rotor blade of a wind turbine, in which method an arrangement of fibers and plastic material is laid in a mold and subjected to an increased pressure and an increased temperature, wherein a mold is used which comprises at least one recess in which a reinforcing element is arranged. The object is to be able to cost-effectively produce a structural component of this type. For this purpose, it is provided that the reinforcing element is laid in the recess together with a core, wherein a differential volume between the recess and core, at least in a predetermined region, is chosen such that it is smaller than a segment of the reinforcing element arranged in said region by a predetermined amount.

A method for producing a component from a fiber-composite material includes introducing a fiber impregnated with a matrix onto the inner mold of a mold space formed between the inner mold and an outer mold, introducing a separating membrane onto the fiber impregnated with the matrix such that a cavity extending along the lateral surface of the outer mold is formed between the outer mold and the separating membrane, supplying a thermal oil to the cavity at a pressure that is greater than ambient pressure such that the thermal oil acts on the separating membrane at the pressure, heating the thermal oil to above a glass transition temperature of the matrix, and cooling the thermal to below the glass transition temperature of the matrix, wherein the pressure of the thermal oil on the separating membrane is kept substantially constant at least during the cooling to below the glass transition temperature.

Methods and apparatus for curing curved cylinder-like workpieces (e.g., in the shape of a half or full barrel) made of composite material, such as nacelle honeycomb core composite sandwich structures. These methods enable tailored curing of composite nacelle structures, to significantly reduce capital cost and fabrication cycle time. In lieu of an autoclave or oven, a pressurized ring-shaped cure volume is defined by a partitioned enclosure that mimics the cylinder-like shape of the composite nacelle structure with only limited clearance (e.g., a partitioned enclosure comprising inner and outer concentric cylinder-like walls). A tool (e.g., a mandrel) and at least one composite nacelle structure supported thereon are placed in the cure volume for curing. Integrally heated tooling, optionally in combination with other heating methods, such as infrared heaters, is utilized to provide the temperature profile necessary for cure.

A dimensionally stable B-pillar for an automotive vehicle including tailored material properties is provided. The B-pillar includes at least one localized soft zone surrounded by a hard zone. The hard zone typically has a yield strength of 950 MPa to 1700 MPa; a tensile strength of 1200 MPa to 2100 MPa; and an elongation of greater than 4%. The soft zones each have a yield strength of 340 MPa to 780 MPa; a tensile strength of 400 MPa to 980 MPa; and an elongation of greater than 10%. The microstructure of the hard zone is martensite, and the microstructure of the soft zones is tempered martensite, ferrite pearlite bainite, ferrite pearlite austenite, ferrite pearlite, ferrite bainite, cementite austenite, and/or cementite bainite. The soft zones of the B-pillar are manufactured with a slow cooling step, which can be conducted in air outside of the dies.

The present system is configured to absorb, using a fluid medium in a reservoir, electromagnetic radiation to heat the fluid medium. The fluid medium may then conduct heat into a mold cavity formed by interior mold surfaces of at least two mold pieces. The fluid medium may heat up to, but not beyond, a phase transition temperature of the fluid medium, reducing instances of accidental damage to moldable material in a mold cavity during thermally-accelerated curing of the moldable material. In some instances a mold may be placed in liquid contained by the reservoir. In some instances, a mold may have integral reservoirs in individual mold pieces.