A method for consolidating a thermoplastic component includes positioning a thermoplastic vacuum bagging film (e.g., PAEK or PEEK) over a thermoplastic preform (e.g., PPS or LM PAEK) to be consolidated, vacuum consolidating the thermoplastic component with the thermoplastic vacuum bagging film to form the thermoplastic component, and removing the thermoplastic vacuum bagging film from the consolidated thermoplastic component.

A method of forming a fibre article, comprising: providing a former having a contoured forming surface; locating a fibre preform between a first diaphragm and a second diaphragm, the second diaphragm being offset from the forming surface; drawing a vacuum between the first and second diaphragms so as to hold the preform captive between the diaphragms; displacing the second diaphragm towards the former so as to bring the second diaphragm into partial contact with the former; drawing a vacuum between the second diaphragm and the former so as to bring at least a part of the second diaphragm adjoining the preform into conformity with the forming surface; and setting the preform in its configuration; wherein: the fibre preform comprises one or more substantially inextensible fibres extending linearly in a first direction; the forming surface comprises a concavity and prominences on either side of the concavity; and the step of bringing the second diaphragm into partial contact with the former comprises bringing the second diaphragm into contact with the prominences whilst the second diaphragm does not fully contact the concavity and with the substantially inextensible fibres extending from one of the prominences to the other.

Disclosed is a liquid-impermeable air diffuser developed for use in vacuum assisted infusion methods, which are the methods for producing the fiber-reinforced polymeric composite materials for sectors such as energy, wind turbine, transportation, automotive, marine, defense, aerospace, urban goods, water slides, and sports equipment (ski, snowboard, surfing, etc.).

The bonding apparatus of the present invention is an apparatus that bonds a patch containing a reinforcing fiber to a bonded section of a corner section CR of an object member. The bonding apparatus has s heater mat, a pushing member, a bag member having a decompression port, a mold releasing film, a breather, a heater mat and a sealant. A pushing member has a first cowl plate, a second cowl plate and an elastic pressuring body. A pressuring section of the pushing member has the surface shape corresponding to a corner section design value after the patch is bonded. By protruding from a gap between a first cowl plate and a second cowl plate to a direction of the corner section CR, the patch is pushed to the bonded section and the generation of a wrinkle in the reinforcing fiber can be prevented.

Disclosed is an elastomeric bladder tool and related systems and methods. In one embodiment, the elastomeric bladder tool comprises an elastomeric inner layer substantially defining an inner cavity of the elastomeric bladder tool, an elastomeric outer layer substantially defining an outer surface of the elastomeric bladder tool, and a permeable middle layer positioned between the elastomeric inner layer and the elastomeric outer layer. The permeable middle layer has greater permeability than both the elastomeric outer layer and the elastomeric inner layer to allow for evacuating of gases that have entered the permeable middle layer.

One embodiment of a method according to the present disclosure may use a fixture with one or more boot recesses formed therein. An embedded member may be engaged with a boot and placed in a boot recess. Substrate lay-up may be placed around all or a portion of the embedded member and an outer member may be positioned over the substrate lay-up. A cover may be positioned over the outer member and engaged with the fixture. The pressure within an interior portion of the fixture may be reduced to less than ambient pressure and resin may be introduced to interact with the substrate lay-up and allowed to cure.

One embodiment of a method according to the present disclosure may use a fixture with one or more boot recesses formed therein. An embedded member may be engaged with a boot and placed in a boot recess. Substrate lay-up may be placed around all or a portion of the embedded member and an outer member may be positioned over the substrate lay-up. A cover may be positioned over the outer member and engaged with the fixture. The pressure within an interior portion of the fixture may be reduced to less than ambient pressure and resin may be introduced to interact with the substrate lay-up and allowed to cure.

Described herein are methods and systems for forming composite stringer assemblies or, more specifically, for shaping composite charges while forming these stringer assemblies. A system comprises a bladder, having a bladder core, and a bladder skin. The bladder core is formed from foam. The bladder skin is formed from an elastic material and encloses the bladder core. When a composite stringer assembly is formed, the bladder is positioned over a charge base. The charge base later becomes a stringer base, such as a fuselage section or a wing skin. A charge hat is then positioned over the bladder and is conformed to the bladder. A combination of the bladder skin and the bladder core provides support during this forming operation and later while the stringer assembly is cured. In some examples, the bladder core is collapsible for the removal of the bladder from the cavity of the stringer assembly.

A ply transporting and compacting apparatus comprises a rigid frame, a top-layer sheet of flexible rubber material fastened to the frame, and a bottom-layer sheet of perforated flexible rubber material having openings. The apparatus also comprises a middle-layer sheet of flow media material disposed in a first plenum area that is defined between the top and bottom layer sheets. The apparatus further comprises a moving device coupled to the frame and arranged to lower the frame and sheets onto a composite ply at a trimming location to pick up the composite ply with a suction force when a vacuum is drawn in the first plenum area to create the suction force through the openings of the bottom-layer sheet.

A method for producing a fibrous preform includes placing a fibrous mat onto a depositing surface, the depositing surface being formed by a web face of a mold core, a first support surface of a first support installation and a second support surface of a second support installation. The fibrous mat is covered by a film and is pressed in a planar manner onto the depositing surface by generating a vacuum. Bringing to bear the fibrous mat on lateral faces of the mold core that extend transversely to the web face is subsequently performed by moving the support installations and the mold core relative to one another in such a manner that a level differential between the web face of the mold core and the support surfaces of the support installations is enlarged. A device for producing a fibrous preform is furthermore described.