PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING HIGH QUALITY COMPOSITE MATERIALS USING AN ISO-STATIC HIGH PRESSURE REACTOR

Abstract

A process of bonding different constituent materials of different tensile strengths in a single step in an isostatic high pressure reactor in order to produce a composite material.

Claims

1. A process for bonding composite materials within a high-pressure isostatic reactor by applying variable profiles of temperature and pressure to said composite materials comprising the following steps: a) Precutting two or more constituent materials, wherein one or more constituent material may be a flexible constituent material and one or more constituent material may be a rigid constituent material b) Stacking said constituent materials in patterns of layering and orientation required to achieve the desired properties of a consequent composite end product to be fused along with a suitable bonding material such that the constituent materials form a composite stock c) Applying one or more additives to the composite stock d) Sealing the composite stock within a composite pouch e) Placing the composite pouch in an isostatic high pressure chamber f) Distributing pressure and temperature uniformly over the surface of the composite pouch for the fusing of the constituent materials by using a mixture of hydraulic fluids and heat transfer oils. g) Providing a means for moulding the flexible constituent material to the contours and shape of the rigid constituent material by applying of variable profiles of temperature and pressure for predefined intervals of time in the high pressure chamber for a predefined period of time. h) Increasing and then maintaining the pressure and temperature of the composite stock within the composite pouch for a pre-defined period of time to a level required to achieve optimum bonding of the composite stock and uniform temperature throughout all surfaces of the constituent materials within the composite stock i) Reducing the temperature of the composite stock while maintaining pressure at the levels specified in step (f) in order to ensure optimum bonding of the constituent materials within the composite stock and the formation of the bonded composite material j) Removing the composite pouch from the isostatic high pressure chamber and cleaning said composite pouch k) Retaining the composite pouch such that the composite pouch becomes an integral part of the bonded composite material.

2. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said additives may be selected from a list that includes chemicals, catalysts, nano-powders, nano-abrasives and other materials required to achieve the desired properties of the consequent composite end product

3. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the predefined intervals of time for the application of variable profiles of temperature and pressure range from intervals of between 2 minutes and 5 minutes, inclusive.

4. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the predefined intervals of time for the application of variable profiles of temperature and pressure range from intervals of between 6 minutes and 10 minutes, inclusive.

5. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the predefined period of time for the application of variable profiles of temperature and pressure ranges from between 15 minutes and 25 minutes, inclusive.

6. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the predefined period of time for the application of variable profiles of temperature and pressure ranges from between 26 minutes and 60 minutes, inclusive.

7. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the variable profiles of temperature range from 35 degrees centigrade to 79 degrees centigrade, inclusive.

8. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the variable profiles of temperature range from 80 degrees centigrade to 120 degrees centigrade, inclusive.

9. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the variable profiles of pressure range from 0 Bars to 100 Bars, inclusive.

10. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the variable profiles of pressure range from 0 Bars to 100 Bars, inclusive.

11. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the predefined period of time for the maintenance of pressure and temperature ranges from between 60 minutes to 120 minutes, inclusive.

12. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein, after the composite pouch (11) is removed from the isostatic high pressure chamber and cleaned, the composite pouch (11) is removed from the bonded composite material and the surface of the bonded composite material is coated using materials suitable to enhance the appearance and utility of the bonded composite stock.

13. A process for bonding composite materials of different tensile strengths, hardness and flexibility and shape in a single step by applying variable profiles of temperature and pressure substantially as herein described.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0045] The following describes the figures which have been incorporated in the section dealing with diagrams and flowcharts:

[0046] The figures and descriptions below pertain to selected examples, which are manufactured using the high pressure reactor process and tested. These examples have been included only to demonstrate the versatility of the high pressure reactor and the process.

[0047] FIG. 1 describes the preparation of a composite stock of Ceramic and HDPE (High Density Poly Ethylene) along with a suitable thermoplastic and spall liners for manufacturing a Composite Body Armor Panel. The spall liners prevent the splinters of ceramic from escaping and hurting the user when the ballistic projectile hits the surface of the composite panel. The Spall liner also stabilizes the ceramic from the front and prevents the ceramic from breaking if it falls down on a hard surface by mistake.

[0048] FIG. 2 describes the preparation of a Composite Panel using a High pressure Reactor. It is to be noted that the figure below is only an example and suitable materials have been used to to explain the process better. The constituent materials in the stock are arranged in the following order: Aluminum-Aramid-HDPE-Aluminium-Aramid-HDPE. This is the composite stock which is then placed in the Composite pouch

[0049] FIG. 3 describes a process flowchart of manufacturing armor using isostatic high pressure reactor.

[0050] FIG. 4 is a graph which describes the temperature and pressure profiles applied to composite materials for a specific period of time. The materials which were used in the stock are Ceramic and High Density Polyethylene. The composite pouch is placed in the chamber. The composite pouch is subjected to different temperature and pressure profiles. The composites are subjected to pressure hammering when the heat applied to the composites are between the temperature range of 80 C. and 120 C. The pressure is increased at a constant rate. When the temperature reaches 130 C., it is subjected to a constant pressure of 150 bar for about 15 to 20 minutes. This process of exposing the composite pouch to a constant pressure at a high temperature is called soaking. The soaking of the Composite stock would help in achieving a desired temperature as required. The composite pouch has to be exposed to a constant pressure at a high temperature for a specific period of time and this is referred to as soak time. The soak time depends on the thickness of the sample introduced, the number of samples and the rate of heat transfer between the composite stocks and the medium.

[0051] FIG. 5 describes the high pressure reactor describing the parts of the reactor idividually. The following table describes the various components of the reactor with reference to the diagram in FIG. 5:

TABLE-US-00001 S. No. Name 1 High Pressure chamber 2 Lid/Platform/Opening and pressure holding cover 3 Heater Assembly 4 Heat exchanger 5 Cooler or chiller assembly 6 Cold pump or heat exchanger 7 Hydraulic Power Pack 8 Heating Control Unit 9 Cooling Control Unit 10 Lifting and holding of cover/lid/platform 11 Mixer Drive 12 Mechanical Feed through 13 High Pressure turbine cum mixer 14 High pressure sealing 15 Sample holder and sample cover 16 Special hydraulic and heat transfer fluids

THE FOLLOWING IS A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0052] The invention provides for a process of fusing composite materials of different shapes and sizes by placing them in an isostatic high pressure reactor and subjecting them to variable profiles of temperature and pressure.

[0053] The invention consists of the following parts:

[0054] Isostatic High Pressure Reactor [0055] 1. High pressure Chamber [0056] 2. Specially designed lid [0057] 3. Immersion heater assembly [0058] 4. Mixer turbine [0059] 5. Cooling assembly [0060] 6. Heat exchanger [0061] 7. Immersion heaters [0062] 8. Cold pump [0063] 9. Electric motor [0064] 10. Mechanical feed through [0065] 11. Sealant

[0066] Ancilliary Units: [0067] 12. Heater control unit [0068] 13. Cooler control unit [0069] 14. Hydraulic power pack [0070] 15. High pressure turbine cum mixer [0071] 16. Oil removers

[0072] Composite Materials and Additives: [0073] 1. Composite Pouch [0074] 2. Composite stock [0075] 12(a) Flexible constituent material [0076] 12(b) Rigid constituent material [0077] 12(c) Thermoplastic material [0078] 3. Curing agent

[0079] The constituent materials that may be used for bonding into a composite material may include both flexible and rigid materials. In many situations, the flexible material will need to be bonded to the rigid material in a configuration that seamlessly follows the contours of the rigid material.

[0080] The materials may consequently then need to be stacked in a pattern that is required to achieve the desired properties of the final composite end-product. At this stage, the application of a suitable bonding material is required to ensure initial cohesiveness of the constituent materials to each other. The bonding material may be a thermoplastic material or an adhesive, and may preferably be chosen from a range of commercially available thermoplastic materials such as NolaxS22.2031. The resultant arranged and temporarily bonded constituent materials are called the composite stock.

[0081] Certain additive components such as chemicals, catalysts, catalystic meshes nano-powders, nano-abrasives and other materials required to achieve the desired properties of the consequent composite end product are added to the composite stock, which is then sealed within a composite pouch.

[0082] The composite pouch is then sealed within a high-pressure isostatic chamber. The lid of the isostatic chamber is fitted with more than one high-temperature and pressure-resistant sealant O-rings designed to withstand pressure of up to 600 bars and temperatures of 160 degrees centigrade. The isostatic pressure is filled with a mixture of hydraulic fluids and heat transfer oils. The mixture of Hydraulic fluid and heat transfer oils helps to transfer the heat and pressure uniformly over the surface of the composite pouch. Hydraulic fluids of high viscosity are used in isostatic chambers in order to apply high pressure to the components therein. However, hydraulic fluids are insufficiently good conductors of heat for the purposes of efficient and uniform heat transfer to the components within the chamber. For this reason, heat transfer oils are added to the hydraulic fluids in order to achieve a fluid medium for application of uniform pressure and efficient transfer upon the surface of the composite stock. The hydraulic fluid requires a minimum ISO Viscosity Grade of 10-100 and may be selected from a list of any commercially available hydraulic fluid. The heat transfer oil used for efficient heat transfer may also be selected from any commercially available list of heat transfer oils, though, preferably hytherm 500 is used.

[0083] The composite stock is then subjected to a process of variable pressure and temperature profiles for a period of time through a process known as pressure hammering. Once the composite stock (12) is prepared and placed in the composite pouch (11), it is then subjected to variable profiles of temperature and pressure. The flexible constituent material (12a) is then forced to adapt to the shape of the rigid constituent material (12b) under the influence of pressure. The amount of time for which the composite stock will need to be subjected to pressure hammering will vary depending on the optimum temperature required to achieve the desired viscoelasticity of the flexible constituent material. At high pressure and temperature, the viscoelasticity of the flexible constituent material (12a) increases, thereby forcing the flexible constituent material (12a) to adapt to the shape of the rigid constituent material (12b). The materials are subjected to variable profiles of temperature and pressure depending on the type of the constituent materials (12a and 12b) in the composite stock (12) which are required to be fused together to produce a composite material.

[0084] After the pressure hammering is concluded, the pressure and temperature of the composite stock is increased and maintained so as to achieve the optimum bonding of the composite stock and to achieve a uniform temperature throughout all the surfaces of the composite stock. This period of time is called soak time. The temperature is reduced to allow the flexible component to fuse and bond with the rigid component and the pressure is maintained in order to allow layers to bond during the cooling phase. The temperature is then reduced to a predetermined value of less than 48 degrees centigrade and the composite pouch is removed. The composite pouch is preferably retained to form part of the bonded composite material.

Working Embodiment

[0085] A working embodiment of the invention for the purposes of preparing composite materials suitable for use in body armour is disclosed below: [0086] 1. A combination of constituent materials suitable for preparing composite body armour is selected and pre-cut into a suitable shape. In this instance, ceramic plate, Kevlar, tensylon stock and Kevlar spall liners may be used. [0087] 2. The constituent materials are then layered and assembled into a composite stock, with a layer of thermoplastic material such as Nolax S22.2031 between each layer of constituent material. In this instance, the arrangement of constitutent materials and thermoplastic materials into a composite stock is as follows, with the first component at the bottom layer and the last component as the top layer: [0088] a. Kevlar spall liner [0089] b. Thermoplastic layer [0090] c. Ceramic plate [0091] d. Thermoplastic layer [0092] e. Kevlar layer [0093] f. Thermoplastic layer [0094] g. Tensylon stock with thermoplastic matrix [0095] h. Thermoplastic layer [0096] i. Kevlar spall liner [0097] j. Thermoplastic layer [0098] k. Kevlar layer [0099] 3. The resulting composite stock is then placed in a composite pouch and suitable additives are added to the composite stock. Excess air is removed from the composite pouch layers that are close to the stock layers, though some air and water vapour is retained within the pouch. The pouch is then sealed in a manner that renders it proof against fluid incursion or excursion. [0100] 4. The composite pouch is then introduced into the high-pressure isostatic chamber filled with a mixture of hydraulic fluids and heat transfer oils. The temperature in the chamber is then increased to 30 degrees centigrade and the pressure increased to 40 bars, where it is retained for a period of 60 minutes. 60 minutes after insertion, the composite pouch is then subjected to a pressure hammering process by series of temperature and pressure variations over a period of 60 minutes. 120 minutes after insertion, the pressure in the chamber is then increased to 150 bar and maintained for a period of 90 minutes, after which it is gradually reduced to 0 bar. 120 minutes after insertion, the temperature is gradually increased to 125 degrees centigrade for a period of 10 minutes and then gradually decreased to 45 degrees. The process of temperature and pressure variation over time within the isostatic chamber is illustrated using FIG. 4 in the drawings provided. [0101] 5. After the composite pouch is removed from the chamber, the composite pouch is retained and forms part of the bonded composite material.