PREFORM FABRICATION APPARATUS, FABRICATION METHOD, AND PREFORM FABRICATED WITH SAME METHOD

摘要

Provided is an apparatus that fabricates preforms for use in RTM forming by molding a laminated body comprising a plurality of layers of reinforced fiber substrate, to which a bonding agent having thermoplastic resin as its primary constituent element has been applied, into a specific shape through the application of heat in a forming mold comprising facing molds. The apparatus is characterized in that a heating mechanism is provided in a first mold only and that at least a contact surface of a second mold that comes into contact with the reinforced fiber substrate is formed of a material having a thermal conductivity lower than that of the first mold; also provided is a preform fabrication method, and a preform fabricated by such method. Provided is an apparatus and a method for the easy fabrication of preforms used in RTM forming and that are capable of saving energy by controlling heat dissipation and increasing heating efficiency and of fabricating even preforms formed in complex shapes with high dimensional precision; a preform fabricated using such method is also provided.