METHOD OF LIQUID RESIN INFUSION OF A COMPOSITE PREFORM

摘要

An assembly and method for infusing composite material with liquid resin to form a composite part with a smooth outer mold line (OML) surface and a complex inner mold line (IML) surface. The method may include placing a flow media into a deepest tier of a two-tiered recess in a rigid tool, placing a perforated caul sheet into a shallowest tier of the two-tiered recess, and placing uninfused composite material over the perforated caul sheet. Next, the method may include placing an impermeable membrane over the composite material and sealing the impermeable membrane to the rigid tool. Finally, the method may include vacuuming air from a vacuum port of the impermeable membrane to compress the impermeable membrane toward the composite material and the rigid tool, thus pull liquid resin from a resin reservoir, through the flow media, through the perforations of the caul sheet, and throughout the composite material.

主权项

1. A method of infusing composite material with liquid resin to form a composite part, the method comprising:
placing a flow media into a recess formed into a surface of a rigid tool, wherein the recess is selectively fluidly coupled with a resin reservoir having liquid resin therein; placing a caul sheet into the recess, thereby sandwiching the flow media between the caul sheet and the rigid tool, wherein the caul sheet has a plurality of holes or perforations formed therein or is made of a porous material; placing composite material over the caul sheet; placing an impermeable membrane over the composite material; sealing the impermeable membrane to the rigid tool around a periphery of the composite material; and applying a pressure differential sufficient to compress the impermeable membrane toward the composite material and the rigid tool.