Method for molding composite material and apparatus for molding composite material

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12076945-B2
Application number	US-202017626448-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 19, 2020
Priority date	Mar 19, 2020
Publication date	Sep 3, 2024
Grant date	Sep 3, 2024

Abstract

A method for molding a composite material includes arranging a prepreg on a jig molding surface of a jig for molding. The method includes sealing a first endless seal region that surrounds the prepreg is formed by bonding a resin bag and the jig molding surface by a first sealing material and a second endless seal region that surrounds the prepreg and is positioned outside the first seal region is formed by bonding a resin bag and the jig molding surface by a second sealing material. The method includes depressurizing a first space inside the first seal region and a second space between the first seal region and the second seal region are depressurized. The method includes thermally curing the prepreg by supplying a water vapor into the internal space of a pressure vessel, while holding the pressure vessel in a sealed state.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A composite material molding method of molding a composite material, the method comprising:
a disposing step of disposing the composite material on a jig molding surface of a molding jig provided in an internal space of a pressure vessel capable of being closed;
a sealing step of forming an endless first sealing region that surrounds the composite material by adhering a resin bag and the jig molding surface to each other with a first sealant, forming an endless second sealing region that surrounds the composite material and is disposed on an outer side from the first sealing region by adhering the resin bag and the jig molding surface to each other with a second sealant, and airtightly sealing the composite material with the resin bag;
a depressurizing step of depressurizing a first space on an inner side of the first sealing region and a second space between the first sealing region and the second sealing region; and
a heat-curing step of heat-curing the composite material by supplying steam with a predetermined temperature and a predetermined pressure to the internal space of the pressure vessel in a state where the pressure vessel is closed,
wherein in the sealing step, a ventilation member for securing a ventilation space is disposed in the second space to surround the first sealing region, and
in the sealing step, the ventilation member is disposed in the second space such that a distance from an outer periphery-side end portion of the ventilation member to the second sealant is shorter than a distance from an inner periphery-side end portion of the ventilation member to the first sealant.

2. A composite material molding method of molding a composite material, the method comprising:
a disposing step of disposing the composite material on a jig molding surface of a molding jig provided in an internal space of a pressure vessel capable of being closed;
a sealing step of forming an endless first sealing region that surrounds the composite material by adhering a resin bag and the jig molding surface to each other with a first sealant, forming an endless second sealing region that surrounds the composite material and is disposed on an outer side from the first sealing region by adhering the resin bag and the jig molding surface to each other with a second sealant, and airtightly sealing the composite material with the resin bag;
a depressurizing step of depressurizing a first space on an inner side of the first sealing region and a second space between the first sealing region and the second sealing region; and
a heat-curing step of heat-curing the composite material by supplying steam with a predetermined temperature and a predetermined pressure to the internal space of the pressure vessel in a state where the pressure vessel is closed,
wherein in the sealing step, a ventilation member for securing a ventilation space is disposed in the second space to surround the first sealing region, and
in the depressurizing step, the first space is depressurized via a first depressurization port attached to the resin bag such that the first space and a depressurizing unit communicate with each other, and the second space is depressurized via a second depressurization port attached to the resin bag such that the second space and the depressurizing unit communicate with each other, and
the number of the first depressurization ports attached to the resin bag is larger than the number of the second depressurization ports attached to the resin bag.

3. The composite material molding method according to claim 1 ,
wherein the resin bag is formed of a resin film of which a main component is nylon or polyurethane.

4. The composite material molding method according to claim 1 ,
wherein the composite material is a laminate in which a fiber preform is laminated together with a resin material.

5. A composite material molding device that molds a composite material, the device comprising:
a pressure vessel capable of being closed;
a molding jig that is provided in an internal space of the pressure vessel and has a jig molding surface for disposing the composite material;
a resin bag that forms an endless first sealing region which surrounds the composite material by being adhered to the jig molding surface with a first sealant, forms an endless second sealing region which surrounds the composite material and is disposed on an outer side from the first sealing region by being adhered to the jig molding surface with a second sealant, and airtightly seals the composite material;
a depressurizing unit that depressurizes a first space on an inner side of the first sealing region and a second space between the first sealing region and the second sealing region;
a ventilation member that secures a ventilation space in the second space depressurized by the depressurizing unit; and
a steam supply unit that supplies steam with a predetermined temperature and a predetermined pressure to the internal space of the pressure vessel in a state where the pressure vessel is closed, and heat-cures the composite material,
wherein the ventilation member is disposed in the second space such that a distance from an outer periphery-side end portion thereof to the second sealant is shorter than a distance from an inner periphery-side end portion thereof to the first sealant.

6. A composite material molding device that molds a composite material, the device comprising:
a pressure vessel capable of being closed;
a molding jig that is provided in an internal space of the pressure vessel and has a jig molding surface for disposing the composite material;
a resin bag that forms an endless first sealing region which surrounds the composite material by being adhered to the jig molding surface with a first sealant, forms an endless second sealing region which surrounds the composite material and is disposed on an outer side from the first sealing region by being adhered to the jig molding surface with a second sealant, and airtightly seals the composite material;
a depressurizing unit that depressurizes a first space on an inner side of the first sealing region and a second space between the first sealing region and the second sealing region;
a ventilation member that secures a ventilation space in the second space depressurized by the depressurizing unit; and
a steam supply unit that supplies steam with a predetermined temperature and a predetermined pressure to the internal space of the pressure vessel in a state where the pressure vessel is closed, and heat-cures the composite material,
wherein the depressurizing unit depressurizes the first space via a first depressurization port attached to the resin bag and depressurizes the second space via a second depressurization port attached to the resin bag, and
the number of the first depressurization ports attached to the resin bag is larger than the number of the second depressurization ports attached to the resin bag.

7. The composite material molding device according to claim 5 ,
wherein the resin bag is formed of a resin film of which a main component is nylon or polyurethane.

8. The composite material molding device according to claim 5 , wherein the composite material is a laminate in which a fiber preform is laminated together with a resin material.

Assignees

• Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Yui Yuichi
• Okuda Akihisa

Classifications

• B29K2105/0872

  Prepregs · CPC title

• B29C2043/562

  combined with isostatic pressure, e.g. pressurising fluids, gases · CPC title

• B29C43/56

  Compression moulding under special conditions, e.g. vacuum · CPC title

• B29C43/3642

  Bags, bleeder sheets or cauls for isostatic pressing · CPC title

• B29C43/3607

  with sealing means or the like · CPC title