Method of Making Thermoplastic Composite Structures and Prepreg Tape Used Therein

Abstract

A thermoplastic composite structure is produced by consolidating and forming a composite preform to a desired shape. The preform comprises plies of a high melt temperature thermoplastic prepreg that are tacked together by a low melt temperature thermoplastic adhering the plies together in fixed registration.

Claims

1. A method of making a thermoplastic composite preform, comprising: assembling a stack of high melt temperature thermoplastic composite plies; introducing a low melt temperature thermoplastic between the composite plies; and tacking the high melt temperature thermoplastic composite plies together by melting the low melt temperature thermoplastic.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein: introducing the low melt temperature thermoplastic includes applying the low melt temperature thermoplastic to a surface of each of the plies, whereby the low melt temperature thermoplastic is located between the plies, and melting the low melt temperature thermoplastic includes heating the low melt temperature thermoplastic on the surface of each of the plies to the melt temperature of the low melt temperature thermoplastic.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein introducing the low melt temperature thermoplastic includes applying particles of the low melt temperature thermoplastic on a surface of each of the plies.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein introducing the low melt temperature thermoplastic includes applying liquefied low melt temperature thermoplastic onto a surface of the plies.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein assembling a stack includes laying down strips of high melt temperature thermoplastic composite prepreg having the low melt temperature thermoplastic on a surface thereof.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein melting the low melt temperature thermoplastic includes heating the low melt temperature thermoplastic beneath the strips as the strips of high melt temperature thermoplastic composite prepreg are being laid down.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein introducing the low melt temperature thermoplastic includes applying the low melt temperature thermoplastic on a surface of the high melt temperature thermoplastic composite plies in a pattern that facilitates tacking the high melt temperature thermoplastic composite plies together.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein introducing the low melt temperature thermoplastic includes applying the low melt temperature thermoplastic on a surface of the high melt temperature thermoplastic composite plies in a pattern that facilitates forming the composite plies into a desired shape.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein introducing the low melt temperature thermoplastic includes applying the low melt temperature thermoplastic onto a surface of the high melt temperature thermoplastic composite by one of: depositing dry particles of the low melt temperature thermoplastic onto the surface, streaming a molten low melt temperature thermoplastic onto the surface, and spraying a liquefied low melt temperature thermoplastic onto the surface.

10. A method of making a thermoplastic composite structure, comprising: producing a composite preform having fiber reinforced thermoplastic plies, wherein the plies include a high melt temperature thermoplastic and a low melt temperature thermoplastic; tacking the plies together by melting the low melt temperature thermoplastic; and, consolidating the composite preform.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein: the high melt temperature thermoplastic is a prepreg, and producing the composite preform includes applying the low melt temperature thermoplastic to a surface of the prepreg.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein applying the low melt temperature thermoplastic is performed by one of: depositing the low melt temperature thermoplastic in a liquefied state onto the surface of the prepreg, depositing particles of the low melt temperature thermoplastic on the surface of the prepreg, and spraying the low melt temperature thermoplastic over substantially an entire surface of the prepreg.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein producing the composite preform includes: assembling a stack of the plies, including laying up each of the plies, and melting the low melt temperature thermoplastic on the surface of the prepreg.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein melting the low melt temperature thermoplastic is performed during the laying up of the plies.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the consolidating includes: melting the high melt temperature thermoplastic by heating the preform, and compacting the preform.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: forming the preform to a desired shape, wherein heating the preform melts the low melt temperature thermoplastic to allow the plies to slip relative to each other during the forming.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein producing the composite preform includes: laying up the plies by laying down strips of thermoplastic prepreg using an automatic tape laying machine, and melting the low melt temperature thermoplastic as the strips of the prepreg are being laid down by directing thermal energy onto a surface of the strips of the prepreg.

18. A method of making a strip of composite material for use in fabricating a composite structure, comprising: providing a strip of high melt temperature thermoplastic prepreg; and applying a low melt temperature thermoplastic on a surface of the strip of high melt temperature thermoplastic prepreg.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein applying the low melt temperature thermoplastic is performed by one of: depositing particles of the low melt temperature thermoplastic on the surface of the high melt temperature thermoplastic prepreg, and streaming liquefied low melt temperature thermoplastic onto the surface of the high melt temperature thermoplastic prepreg.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising: adhering the low melt temperature thermoplastic on the surface of the high melt temperature thermoplastic prepreg by heating the low melt temperature thermoplastic to its melt temperature.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising: solidifying the low melt temperature thermoplastic by cooling the low melt temperature thermoplastic, and reeling the high melt temperature thermoplastic prepreg onto a spool.

22. Thermoplastic composite tape, comprising: strip of high melt temperature thermoplastic prepreg; and a low melt temperature thermoplastic adhered to a surface of the strip of high melt temperature thermoplastic prepreg, the low melt temperature thermoplastic having a melt temperature that is below the melt temperature of the strip of high melt temperature thermoplastic prepreg.

23. The thermoplastic composite tape of claim 22, wherein: the melt temperature of the strip of high melt temperature thermoplastic prepreg is above approximately 300? C., and the melt temperature of the low melt temperature thermoplastic is the below approximately 300? C.

24. The thermoplastic composite tape of claim 23, wherein: the strip of high melt temperature thermoplastic prepreg is one of PSU, PEI, PEKK, and PEEK, and the low melt temperature thermoplastic is one of polyethylene and polypropylene.

25. A thermoplastic composite preform, comprising: a stack of plies of thermoplastic prepreg having a melt temperature at which the plies can be consolidated, and a thermoplastic polymer tacking the plies together, the thermoplastic polymer having a melt temperature below a melt temperature of the thermoplastic prepreg.

26. The thermoplastic composite preform of claim 25, wherein: the melt temperature of the thermoplastic prepreg is above approximately 300? C., and the thermoplastic polymer has a melt temperature below approximately 300? C.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The novel features believed characteristic of the illustrative embodiments are set forth in the appended claims. The illustrative embodiments, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0013] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a perspective view of a high temperature thermoplastic composite laminate structure.

[0014] FIG. 2 is an illustration of perspective view of a ply stack used to produce the structure shown in FIG. 1, slightly exploded to better show the individual plies.

[0015] FIG. 3 is an illustration of a perspective view of automatic tape laying equipment laying up a ply, wherein a thermal energy source is melting low temperature thermoplastic particles on the surface of the ply.

[0016] FIG. 4 is an illustration of a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3 wherein spacing between the plies is exaggerated to reveal low-temperature thermoplastic tacking.

[0017] FIG. 5 is an illustration similar to FIG. 4 but showing the plies having been consolidated.

[0018] FIG. 6 is an illustration of a plan view of a section of high melt temperature thermoplastic prepreg tape having particles of low temperature thermoplastic having been applied to a surface thereof.

[0019] FIG. 7 is an illustration of an end view of the prepreg tape shown in FIG. 6.

[0020] FIG. 8 is an illustration of a plan view of a section of prepreg tape on which molten low melt temperature thermoplastic has been applied in a continuous but random pattern.

[0021] FIG. 9 is illustration similar to FIG. 8 but wherein the pattern is repeating.

[0022] FIG. 10 is an illustration of a diagrammatic view of apparatus for applying a low-temperature thermoplastic polymer on the surface of a high temperature thermoplastic prepreg tape.

[0023] FIG. 11 is an illustration of a diagrammatic view of a method of making high temperature thermoplastic composite laminate parts using a preform produced in accordance to the disclosed embodiments.

[0024] FIG. 12 is an illustration of a flow diagram of a method of making high temperature thermoplastic composite laminate parts.

[0025] FIG. 13 is an illustration of a flow diagram of aircraft production and service methodology.

[0026] FIG. 14 is an illustration of a block diagram of an aircraft.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Referring first to FIG. 1, the disclosed embodiments relate to a method of making a composite laminate structure 20. In this example, the composite laminate structure 20 is a channel stiffener 22 having a base 24 and a pair of legs 26 forming a U-shaped cross section. Although the illustrated channel stiffener 22 is straight, in other examples it may have one or more contours, twists, curvatures and/or joggles, or other features, and may have any of a variety of cross section shapes, including but not limited to I, J, Z, T, C shapes. The channel stiffener 22 is merely illustrative of a wide range of parts and structures that may be produced using principles of the disclosed embodiments.

[0028] Referring now to FIG. 2, the composite laminate structure 20 may be produced by assembling a stack 28 of composite plies 30 which are tacked together to form a flat composite preform 88, sometimes referred to as a blank. In the illustrated example, each of the composite plies 30 comprises strips 32 of prepreg tape 38 laid down side-by-side, in which a fiber reinforcement 40 is held in a high melt temperature thermoplastic resin 46. In other examples, however, the composite plies 30 may be laid up using any of a variety of other techniques, including automatic fiber placement (AFP), hand layup, braiding and weaving, and may comprise sheets (not shown) of prepreg, rather than strips of high melt temperature thermoplastic composite prepreg 32. The composite plies 30 may have varying fiber orientations, depending upon the performance requirements for the channel stiffener 22. Although not shown in the drawings, the stack 28 may include one or more ply drop-offs, doublers and/or other features, depending upon the particular ply schedule required for the application.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 3, in the illustrated example, each of the composite plies 30 is laid up using automatic tape laying (ATL) equipment 82. The ATL equipment 82 may include an end effector in the form of a tape placement head 36 for laying down composite prepreg tape 38 on a substrate 48 which may be either a tool (not shown) or an underlying one of the composite plies 30. The composite prepreg tape 38 comprises a fiber reinforcement 40 in the form of unidirectional reinforcing fibers held in a high melt temperature thermoplastic resin 46. In the illustrated example, the composite prepreg tape 38 has particles of a low melt temperature thermoplastic 54 on the surface 34 thereof, however as will be discussed below, the low melt temperature thermoplastic 54 may be in other forms on the surface 34 of the tape 38.

[0030] As used herein, high melt temperature thermoplastic 46 is a thermoplastic that typically melts and permits laminate consolidation at temperatures above approximately 300? C. Examples of a high melt temperature thermoplastic 46 include, but are not limited to PSU (polysulfone), PEI (polyethylenimine), PEKK (polyetherketoneketone), and PEEK (polyetheretherketone). As used herein low melt temperature thermoplastic 54 is a thermoplastic that melts at temperatures below the melt temperature of the high melt temperature thermoplastic 46. Examples of low melt temperature thermoplastic polymers include, but are not limited to polyethylene and polypropylene.

[0031] When a preform 88 containing both high and low melt temperature thermoplastics is heated to the melt temperature of the low melt temperature thermoplastic, the low temperature thermoplastic melts, but the high temperature thermoplastic does not melt. In some examples, the low melt temperature thermoplastic 54 may have a melt temperature below approximately 300? C., however, in other examples, the low melt temperature thermoplastic may have a melt temperature that is above 300? C., providing the melt temperature of the high melt temperature thermoplastic is above that of the low melt temperature thermoplastic. For example, and without limitation, where the melt temperature of the high melt temperature thermoplastic is 340? C., the low melt temperature thermoplastic may have a melt temperature of 310? C. Thus, it may be possible to use a thermoplastic such as PEEK having a melt temperature of 343? C. to tack together plies of PEKK prepreg which has a melt temperature of about 360? C.

[0032] Continuing to refer to FIG. 3, the tape 38 has a width W which will depend upon application, and in some applications, may comprise slit tape, i.e. slices of a tape of a wider width. The composite tape 38 is drawn from a supply spool (not shown) on the placement head 36 and is fed to a compaction roller 44 which compacts the tape 38 onto the surface of an underlying ply 30 (or a tool) as the placement head 36 moves over the substrate 48. The placement head 36 is automatically rotated and displaced in order to steer the tape 38 onto the substrate 48 in any desired fiber orientation. As the placement head 36 moves over the substrate 48, a heat source 50 directs thermal energy 52 onto an area of an underlying ply 30 immediately ahead of the compaction roller 44.

[0033] The heat source 50 may comprise a device that generates thermal energy 52 at a relatively low level, such as, without limitation an infrared heater. However, higher energy sources of thermal energy, such as a laser or electron beam may be employed. The heat source 50 generates sufficient thermal energy 52 to melt the particles 62 of low melt temperature thermoplastic 54 present on the surface 34 of the tape 38. However, the applied thermal energy 52 is not great enough to melt the high melt temperature thermoplastic tape 38. In other words, the heat source 50 heats the surface 34 of the tape 38 to a temperature that is sufficient to melt the low melt temperature thermoplastic 54 without melting the high melt temperature thermoplastic 46 of the prepreg tape 38. As noted previously, principles of the disclosed embodiments are applicable to preforms 88 having composite plies 30 that are laid up using any of a variety of layup techniques.

[0034] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the particles 62 after they have been melted by the heat source 50 and subsequently cooled. As the melted particles 62 cool, they adhere and tack the plies 30 together, and prevent the plies 30 from shifting relative to each other within the stack 28. Consequently, registration of the plies 30 is maintained throughout the layup process, and thereafter when the preform 88 is transferred to either storage or to another processing station for shape forming and/or consolidation. FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but shows the plies 30 consolidated as a result of having been heated to the melt temperature of the high melt temperature thermoplastic 46, and compacted.

[0035] Referring to FIGS. 6-9, the low melt temperature thermoplastic 54 can be applied to the surface 34 of the prepreg tape 38 in any of various ways. In FIGS. 6 and 7, low melt temperature thermoplastic 54 in the form of particles 62 is deposited in dry form, or alternatively liquefied low melt temperature thermoplastic 54 can be sprayed onto the surface 34 of the tape 38 either in a random pattern 58 (FIGS. 6-8) or a regular/repeating pattern 60 (FIG. 9). During cooling, the melted dry particles 62 solidify and adhere to the surface 34 of the tape 38. In another example shown in FIG. 8, the low melt temperature thermoplastic 54 is applied to the tape 38 by streaming molten low melt temperature thermoplastic 54 onto the surface 34 in a continuous but random pattern 58. In still another example shown FIG. 9, molten low melt temperature thermoplastic 54 can be applied to the tape 38 by streaming it onto the surface 34 continuously in a repeating pattern 60.

[0036] In still another example not shown in the Figures, the low melt temperature thermoplastic 54 can be applied to the tape 38 by spraying a liquefied low melt temperature thermoplastic onto the entire surface 34 of the tape 38. Other application patterns are possible, including for example and without limitation, applying the low melt temperature thermoplastic 54 in a pattern (not shown) having a shape that facilitates tack between the plies 30 and/or minimizes the amount low melt temperature thermoplastic 54 required to achieve a desired degree of tack between the plies 30. A variety of other techniques for applying the low melt temperature thermoplastic 54 are possible. In the example where the entire surface 34 of the tape 38 is covered with low melt temperature thermoplastic 54, thermal energy 52 can be directed onto the tape surface 34 such that all or only a portion of the low melt temperature thermoplastic 54 is melted. For example and without limitation, the low temperature melt thermoplastic 54 could be applied in a pattern, and then heated to its melt temperature, to achieve tacking only in specifically selected areas of the plies 30 in order to facilitate forming the preform to a particular shape. Further, the low melt temperature thermoplastic 54 could be applied in a pattern that facilitates creation of a preform 88 having a particular shape and/or which facilitates forming the preform 88 into a particular shape.

[0037] FIG. 10 diagrammatically illustrates a system 72 for producing the high melt temperature thermoplastic prepreg tape 38 having the low melt temperature thermoplastic 54 applied thereto as described previously. High melt temperature thermoplastic prepreg tape 64, which may comprise slit tape, is drawn from a supply spool 66 past an applicator 70 that applies the low melt temperature thermoplastic 54 on the surface 34 of the prepreg tape 64. As previously described, the applicator 70 may spray, stream or otherwise deposit the low melt temperature thermoplastic 54, either dry or in a liquefied state, onto the surface 34 of the prepreg tape 64. The applied low melt temperature thermoplastic 54 may comprise particles, or an intermittent or continuous molten stream of material that covers either a portion or the entire area of the surface 34 of the tape 38.

[0038] In some embodiments, the low melt temperature thermoplastic 54 applied by the applicator 70 may be in a molten form that adheres to the surface 34 of the tape 38 shortly after contact. In other examples, the low melt temperature thermoplastic 54 is heated to its melt temperature by a source 74 of thermal energy, such as, for example and without limitation, an infrared heater (not shown), following which the tape 38 passes through a cooler 76, thereby cooling the low melt temperature thermoplastic 54 such that it solidifies and adheres to the surface 34 of the tape 38. The finished prepreg tape then passes through one or more driven or passive rollers 78 before being drawn onto a take-up spool 80. The spool 80 may be used as a supply of the prepreg tape 38 that is carried on the tape placement head 36 (FIG. 3) which feeds the tape 38 to the compaction roller 44 that compacts the tape 38 onto the substrate 48.

[0039] FIG. 11 diagrammatically illustrates a production system for manufacturing thermoplastic composite parts using principles of the disclosed embodiments. The ATL equipment 82 may comprise an end effector 84 such as the previously described tape placement head 36, operated by a numerically controlled manipulator, which may comprise, without limitation, a robot 85. The robot 85 lays up a group 92 preforms 88, each comprising a plurality of high melt temperature thermoplastic prepreg plies 30 that are tacked together by a low melt temperature thermoplastic 54, as previously discussed. The preforms 88 are consolidated either individually, or as a group in a suitable consolidation press 90, and thereafter maybe accumulated as a stack 94. The preforms 88 may be individually drawn from the stack 94 and transferred by a shuttle 96 or means to an oven 98 where they are heated to at least the melt temperature of the high temperature thermoplastic prepreg 46. Each of the heated preforms 88 is then placed in a forming machine such as, without limitation, a stamping press 100 where it is formed to the desired part shape between a pair of matched tools 102. Other forming techniques are possible, including but not limited to vacuum bag compaction, autoclave processing and drape forming.

[0040] Attention is now directed to FIG. 12 which broadly illustrates the steps of a method of making a composite structure 20 in accordance with the disclosed embodiments. Beginning at 104, a low melt temperature thermoplastic 54 is applied on the surface 34 of a plurality of high melt temperature thermoplastic composite plies 30. At 106, the high melt temperature thermoplastic composite plies 30 are assembled into a stack 94. The stack 94 may be assembled by laying up the plies 30 using automated or hand layup techniques, as previously described. At 108, a high melt temperature thermoplastic composite preform 88 is formed, including tacking the high melt temperature thermoplastic composite plies 30 together by melting the low melt temperature thermoplastic 54, as by heating the low melt temperature thermoplastic to its melt temperature. The low melt temperature thermoplastic 54 may be introduced between the plies 30 by applying the low melt temperature thermoplastic 54 in liquefied or dry form to the surface of the plies 30. At 110, the perform 88 is consolidated and formed to a desired shape, including heating the preform and melting the high melt temperature thermoplastic composite plies 30.

[0041] Embodiments of the disclosure may find use in a variety of potential applications, particularly in the transportation industry, including for example, aerospace, marine, automotive applications and other application where thermoplastic composite parts are used. Thus, referring now to FIGS. 13 and 14, embodiments of the disclosure may be used in the context of an aircraft manufacturing and service method 112 as shown in FIG. 13 and an aircraft 114 as shown in FIG. 14. Aircraft applications of the disclosed embodiments may include, for example, without limitation, structural stiffeners used in the airframe 137 of the aircraft 114. During pre-production, exemplary method 112 may include specification and design 116 of the aircraft 114 and material procurement 118. During production, component and subassembly manufacturing 120 and system integration 122 of the aircraft 114 takes place. Thereafter, the aircraft 114 may go through certification and delivery 124 in order to be placed in service 126. While in service by a customer, the aircraft 114 is scheduled for routine maintenance and service 128, which may also include modification, reconfiguration, refurbishment, and so on.

[0042] Each of the processes of method 112 may be performed or carried out by a system integrator, a third party, and/or an operator (e.g., a customer). For the purposes of this description, a system integrator may include without limitation any number of aircraft manufacturers and major-system subcontractors; a third party may include without limitation any number of vendors, subcontractors, and suppliers; and an operator may be an airline, leasing company, military entity, service organization, and so on. High temperature thermoplastic composite parts and structures according to the disclosed embodiments may be employed as part of material procurement 118, component and subassembly manufacturing 120, airframe 130 and the interior 134 of the aircraft 114.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 14, the aircraft 114 produced by exemplary method 112 may include an airframe 130 with a plurality of systems 132 and an interior 134. Examples of high-level systems 132 include one or more of a propulsion system 136, an electrical system 138, a hydraulic system 140, and an environmental system 142. Any number of other systems may be included. Although an aerospace example is shown, the principles of the disclosure may be applied to other industries, such as the marine and automotive industries.

[0044] Systems and methods embodied herein may be employed during any one or more of the stages of the production and service method 112. For example, components or subassemblies corresponding to production process 120 may be fabricated or manufactured in a manner similar to components or subassemblies produced while the aircraft 114 is in service. Also, one or more apparatus embodiments, method embodiments, or a combination thereof may be utilized during the production stages 120 and 122, for example, by substantially expediting assembly of or reducing the cost of an aircraft 114. Similarly, one or more of apparatus embodiments, method embodiments, or a combination thereof may be utilized while the aircraft 114 is in service, for example and without limitation, to maintenance and service 128.

[0045] As used herein, the phrase at least one of, when used with a list of items, means different combinations of one or more of the listed items may be used and only one of each item in the list may be needed. For example, at least one of item A, item B, and item C may include, without limitation, item A, item A and item B, or item B. This example also may include item A, item B, and item C or item B and item C. The item may be a particular object, thing, or a category. In other words, at least one of means any combination items and number of items may be used from the list but not all of the items in the list are required.

[0046] The description of the different illustrative embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Further, different illustrative embodiments may provide different advantages as compared to other illustrative embodiments. The embodiment or embodiments selected are chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.