Method for manufacturing a fibre reinforced composite article and apparatus for manufacturing same

• Main Authors: WEISS, ROLAND, EBERT, MARCO, HENRICH, MARTIN, SCHEIBEL, THORSTEN
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 15.09.2004
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F,C08G; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CEMENTS; CERAMICS; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDINGMATERIALS; CONCRETE; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; LIME, MAGNESIA; METALLURGY; ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCESIN A PLASTIC STATE; REFRACTORIES; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SLAG; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; TRANSPORTING; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL; WORKING-UP

An integrated grid shaped fiber preform (18) with the same material thickness and/or the same fiber volume content over the whole area including the intersection points of the fibers is placed in a molding tool (20,28) with cavities (22) forming a grid pattern. The preform is impregnated with a monomer or polymer either before or after location in the tool cavity and is then cured. An Independent claim is made for a tool for the process which comprises a lower tool part (20) with cavities (22) formed by square flexible elements (26) and an upper tool part (28) forming a punch and having a grid shape which fits into the cavities of the lower tool part.