US 11,945,176 B2
Mechanical shaping of composite materials
Tim Wybrow, Likeston (GB); Richard Hollis, Derbyshire (GB); Dean Wright, Derbyshire (GB); and Richard Russell, Derbyshire (GB)
Assigned to Cytec Industries, Inc., Princeton, NJ (US)
Appl. No. 17/418,978
Filed by Cytec Industries Inc., Princeton, NJ (US)
PCT Filed Dec. 31, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/069167
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 28, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/142569, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 9, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/786,855, filed on Dec. 31, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0111605 A1, Apr. 14, 2022
Int. Cl. B29C 70/46 (2006.01); B29C 33/58 (2006.01); B29C 35/08 (2006.01); B29C 70/54 (2006.01); B29K 105/00 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 70/46 (2013.01) [B29C 33/58 (2013.01); B29C 35/0805 (2013.01); B29C 70/461 (2021.05); B29C 70/545 (2013.01); B29C 2035/0822 (2013.01); B29K 2105/0094 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for shaping a composite material, the method comprising:
A. positioning a composite system in a press tool, the press tool comprising a male mold and a corresponding female mold separated by a gap, wherein the male mold and the female mold each independently have a non-planar molding surface,
B. compressing the composite system between the male mold and the female mold by closing the gap between the male mold and the female mold; and
C. maintaining the male mold and the female mold in a closed position until the viscosity of the composite system reaches a level sufficient to maintain a molded shape,
wherein the composite system comprises at least one woven or non-woven veil having a top surface and a bottom surface and a substantially planar composite material having a top surface and a bottom surface;
wherein the bottom surface of the substantially planar composite material is in contact with the top surface of a first woven or non-woven veil of the at least one woven or non-woven veil; and
wherein the at least one woven or non-woven veil is held in place in the composite system with a structural frame including a top frame and a bottom frame.