Method for Producing a Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Component and Fiber-Reinforced Component

Abstract

A method for producing a fiber-reinforced plastic component and a fiber-reinforced plastic component. The method includes providing a textile insert having a decoration, inserting the textile insert and a semi-finished fiber product into a pressing tool, and processing the textile insert, the semi-finished fiber product, and a matrix material in the pressing tool to form the fiber-reinforced plastic component. The matrix material is cured during the processing.

Claims

1.-14. (canceled)

15. A method for producing a fiber-reinforced plastic component, comprising the acts of: providing a textile insert having a decoration; inserting the textile insert and a semi-finished fiber product into a pressing tool; and processing the textile insert, the semi-finished fiber product, and a matrix material in the pressing tool to form the fiber-reinforced plastic component, wherein the matrix material is cured during the processing.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the textile insert is a knitted material.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the textile insert has a weight in a range from 50 g/m.sup.2 to 150 g/m.sup.2 or in the range from 50 g/m.sup.2 to 110 g/m.sup.2.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the textile insert is colored.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein the textile insert is printed by latex printing.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein the producing of the fiber-reinforced plastic component is carried out in a resin-transfer molding (RTM) process.

21. The method according to claim 15, wherein the producing of the fiber-reinforced plastic component is carried out by wet pressing.

22. The method according to claim 15, wherein the textile insert is positioned and fixed on the semi-finished fiber product or the textile insert is positioned and fixed in the pressing tool.

23. A fiber-reinforced plastic component, comprising: a fiber reinforcement which is embedded in a matrix material; and a textile insert that has a decoration, wherein the textile insert is disposed on the fiber reinforcement and is embedded in the matrix material.

24. The fiber-reinforced plastic component according to claim 23, wherein the textile insert is a knitted material.

25. The fiber-reinforced plastic component according to claim 23, wherein the textile insert in a dry state has a weight in a range from 50 g/m.sup.2 to 150 g/m.sup.2 or in the range from 50 g/m.sup.2 to 110 g/m.sup.2.

26. The fiber-reinforced plastic component according to claim 23, wherein the textile insert is colored.

27. The fiber-reinforced plastic component according to claim 23, wherein the textile insert is printed by latex printing.

28. The fiber-reinforced plastic component according to claim 23, wherein the textile insert is disposed on a side of the fiber reimbursement that faces a visible side of the fiber-reinforced plastic component.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an example of a method sequence;

[0029] FIG. 2A shows a sectional view of a vehicle component; and

[0030] FIG. 2B shows a plan view of the vehicle component from FIG. 2A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] In the method, firstly a textile insert 1 is provided. The insert 1 is designed to be colored, for example with a decoration 2, lettering here. The decoration 2 can be, for example, a brand emblem or the like. The decoration 2 can extend over the entire insert 1 or only part of the insert. The textile insert 1 is preferably a polyester knitted material having a weight in the range from 50 g/m.sup.2 to 150 g/m.sup.2. The colored design of the insert 1 is preferably made by latex printing with suitable colors.

[0032] The textile insert 1, together with a semi-finished fiber product 8 and a matrix material 9, is further processed in a temperature-controlled pressing tool 3. The pressing tool 3 includes a cavity, which depicts the outer contour of the fiber-reinforced plastic component to be produced. The cavity is delimited by the inner wall 4, 5 of the tool parts 6 and 7.

[0033] The method is preferably carried out as an RTM process. To this end, firstly the textile insert 1 and the semi-finished fiber product 8 are inserted into the cavity of the tool. The semi-finished fiber product 1 forms the subsequent fiber reinforcement in the component. The textile insert 1 makes no noticeable contribution to the strength of the component.

[0034] The textile insert 1 can be inserted into the tool 3, for example independently of the semi-finished product 8, as shown in FIG. 1. The textile insert 1 is then preferably fixed relative to the tool 3. If the textile insert 1 reaches over the entire width or length of the component, then it can be clamped and positioned on the tool, for example by means of a clamping device.

[0035] The textile insert 1 can also be positioned first on the semi-finished fiber product 8 and fixed, for example with an adhesive or stitched, and then introduced into the pressing tool 3 together with the semi-finished fiber product 8.

[0036] The tool 3 is closed and a curable matrix material 9, for example an epoxy resin provided with hardener, is injected into the closed tool 3 under pressure by means of a filling system, not illustrated. In the tool, the plastic compound impregnates the semi-finished fiber product 8 and the textile insert 1.

[0037] Alternatively, the plastic component 20 can also be produced in the wet pressing method. Then, the semi-finished fiber product 8 is not only wetted with matrix material 9 in the tool 3, instead the matrix material is already applied to the semi-finished fiber product 8 when the latter is inserted into the pressing tool 3. For the production in the wet pressing method, it is advantageous if the textile insert 1 is first fixed to the semi-finished fiber product. This can be done without any additional fixing agent because of the matrix material that is already present. Alternatively, the textile insert can also be positioned directly in the tool.

[0038] The decoration 2 on the textile insert 1 is intended to be visible in the finished plastic component 20. Therefore, in the pressing tool 3, it is preferably placed in such a way that the insert having the decoration 2 is arranged on the subsequent visible side of the component.

[0039] FIG. 2A shows a sectional view through a plastic component 20 which has been produced by the method according to FIG. 1. The plastic component 20 is a vehicle component such as, for example, a vehicle roof or another body component (attachment). The plastic component 20 contains the fiber reinforcement 8 incorporated in the matrix material 9, which is preferably formed from multiple layers of carbon fiber fabric. Since a transparently curing resin system is used as the matrix material 9, the carbon structure remains visible in the finished plastic component 20. On the visible side 22 of the plastic component 20, the textile insert 1 is incorporated into the plastic matrix 9. Here, the polyester fibers not printed with the decoration 2 have remained milkily cloudy under the influence of the resin system. The carbon structure 24 located underneath continues to be visible. The carbon structure can also be detected in the region of the decoration since, because of the material and printing method used, the mesh interspaces are not filled with color and allow the fabric structure lying underneath still to show through. FIG. 2B shows a plan view of the visible side 22 of the plastic component 20.

[0040] The size and shape of the insert can vary in order to depict different decorations or produce effects. For example, the insert can reach as a strip over the entire component width or length or it is possible to use an insert which covers the semi-finished fiber product 8 over the entire component.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0041] 1 Textile insert [0042] 2 Decoration [0043] 3 Pressing tool [0044] 4,5 Inner wall [0045] 6,7 Tool parts [0046] 8 Semi-finished fiber product [0047] 9 Matrix material [0048] 20 Fiber-reinforced component [0049] 22 Visible side [0050] 24 Carbon fiber structure