OVER-MOLDED THERMOPLASTIC COMPOSITE PART HAVING OVER-MOLDED COLOR AND METHOD OF FABRICATING THE SAME

• Main Authors: Childers, Christopher H, Jackson Oliver, Cori A, Bogucki, Gregg R
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 29.07.2021
• Subjects: AEROPLANES; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; AIRCRAFT; ARRANGEMENTS OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSIONTRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS; EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLYING SUITS; HELICOPTERS; PARACHUTES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; TRANSPORTING; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

There is provided an over-molded thermoplastic composite part having an over-molded color, and including a consolidated thermoplastic composite laminate formed by a consolidation process. The consolidated thermoplastic composite laminate is made of a laminate polymer material. The over-molded thermoplastic composite part further includes an over-mold layer over-molded, via an over-molding process, over a first side of the consolidated thermoplastic composite laminate. The over-mold layer includes an over-mold mixture of an over-mold polymer material mixed with one or more additives, including at least a color additive to impart a color to the consolidated thermoplastic composite laminate during the over-molding process. The over-mold polymer material has a melting temperature that is greater than, or equal to, a melting temperature of the laminate polymer material, and that is less than a thermal degradation temperature of the laminate polymer material. The over-molding process results in the over-molded thermoplastic composite part having the over-molded color.