PRODUCTION OF FIBER REINFORCED FLUOROELASTOMER TOOL AND PRODUCED TOOL

摘要

A method of making a flexible composite tool particularly adapted for composite molding and the composite tool made by this method. The method includes dissolving a B-staged fluoroelastomer in a suitable solvent such as methyl ethyl ketone or toluene to form a fluoroelastomer solution. A fabric is then coated with the fluoroelastomer solution. The solvent is evaporated and the impregnated fabric is sandwiched between unreinforced sheets to form a reinforced tooling material. The reinforced tooling material is laid up with alternating layers of unreinforced fluoroelastomer and then cured to form a composite tool which is stable through a plurality thermal cycle. The tool is useful in molding composites and is reusable. The life of the tool is further prolonged by a described method of repairing damaged portions of the tool.