PREFERENTIAL CURING TECHNIQUE IN MOLDING OF FIBER REINFORCED COMPOSITES

摘要

A molding process that involves applying heat (17) to a mold billet (12) located in a mold cavity (11) defined by steel inserts (15). A layer (19) of material having a low thermal conductivity of 1-2 BTU/hour/square foot/inch/F° at 450°F is positioned contiguously to at least one of the inserts (15) so that a portion (13) of the mold billet (12) in the civinity of the low thermal conductivity material layer (19) remains cooler than portions of the mold billet that are remote from the layer of material (19). Also, a mold apparatus comprising a mold cavity (11) defined by steel inserts (15) wherein each of the inserts (15) rests on a bed (19) of low thermal conductivity material which is comprised of 38-48 weight-% calcium carbonate, 27-38 weight-% poylmerized unsaturated polyester resin, and 20-30 weight-% fiberglass. The mold billet (12) may be configured in the shape of an aircraft landing system brake disc preform (33).