| 摘要 |
<p>A process for fabricating a composite vessel includes: A) preforming a composite shell (63) for the vessel (by, for example, winding fiberglass and a thermoplastic material onto a thermoplastic mandrel), the shell having at least one opening for access to the interior; B) introducing an inflatable liner (66) fabricated from a thermoplastic film (67) into the composite shell through the opening; C) surrounding the composite shell with an outer thermoplastic film; D) in a mold (60) (which may optionally itself be heated), heating the thermoplastic film liner, the composite shell and the outer thermoplastic film while applying at least one force (e.g., by evacuating the mold, pressurizing the interior of the thermoplastic film liner or both) which tends to urge the thermoplastic film liner, the composite shell and the outer thermoplastic film outwardly; E) continuing step D) until the thermoplastic film liner, the composite shell and the outer thermoplastic film consolidate and the resulting composite structure becomes fluid and flows to conform to the interior surface of the mold, thereby forming the composite vessel; F) allowing the formed composite vessel to cool; and G) removing the formed composite vessel from the mold. The resulting composite vessel exhibits superior mechanical and aesthetic properties.</p> |
