US 12,104,034 B2
Expandable media with flexible skin as tooling for composite parts
Xiaoxi Wang, Mukilteo, WA (US); Gary E. Georgeson, Tacoma, WA (US); and Jonathan A. Santiago, Seattle, WA (US)
Assigned to THE BOEING COMPANY, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed on Sep. 12, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/465,719.
Application 18/465,719 is a division of application No. 17/445,183, filed on Aug. 16, 2021, granted, now 11,787,914.
Prior Publication US 2024/0002624 A1, Jan. 4, 2024
Int. Cl. C08J 9/16 (2006.01); C08J 9/18 (2006.01); C08J 9/236 (2006.01)
CPC C08J 9/236 (2013.01) [C08J 9/18 (2013.01); C08J 2201/032 (2013.01); C08J 2300/22 (2013.01); C08J 2300/26 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
20. An expandable pellet for use in the curing of composite parts, comprising:
a blowing agent,
a polymer matrix configured to hold the blowing agent, and
a flexible skin configured to encapsulate the polymer matrix and the blowing agent,
wherein the flexible skin is at least partially permeable with respect to the blowing agent or a gas released by the blowing agent, and
wherein the flexible skin is configured to control an expansion of the expandable pellet.