Composite lay-up mold production system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12290966-B2
Application number	US-202118014916-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2021
Priority date	Jul 8, 2020
Publication date	May 6, 2025
Grant date	May 6, 2025

Abstract

A mandrel is disclosed which is suitable for use in surface metallization process (electrodeposition) by electrolysis. The mandrel has at least one inner coating which is metallized on an outer surface of the mandrel by electrolysis method such that it almost entirely covers the outer surface thereof, allowing electrical conductivity to be created on the surface and at least one outer coating which is obtained by almost entirely an electrolytic and/or electroless metallization on the inner coating.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A composite lay-up production system ( 1 ) comprising:
a mandrel ( 2 ) suitable for use in an electrodeposition process by electrolysis;
at least one inner coating ( 3 ) which is metallized on an outer surface of the mandrel ( 2 ) by an electrolysis method such that it almost entirely covers the outer surface thereof, allowing electrical conductivity to be created on the surface;
at least one outer coating ( 4 ) which is obtained by an electrolytic or electroless metal coating on the inner coating ( 3 ), wherein the mandrel ( 2 ) is produced from high density polyurethane foam material and is suitable for increasing its conductivity by doping with black carbon and/or different derivatives of carbon, CNT (carbon nano tube) or graphene;
wherein the inner coating ( 3 ) is formed on the surface of said mandrel ( 2 ) by first immersing said mandrel ( 2 ) in a solution containing Sn +2 ions so that Sn +2 ions are deposited to pores on the surface of the mandrel ( 2 ), and then immersing said mandrel ( 2 ) in an activation solution containing Pd +2 ions so that the Sn +2 ions in the pores of said mandrel ( 2 ) are oxidized to Sn +4 and the Pd +2 ions are reduced to Pd atoms, providing an increase in surface conductivity; and
a composite lay-up mold ( 5 ) which allows a fabric (k) laid thereon to be pre-formed, consists of the inner coating ( 3 ) and the outer coating ( 4 ), and is obtained by the removal of the inner coating ( 3 ) and the outer coating ( 4 ) from the mandrel ( 2 ) as a single piece.

2. A composite lay-up production system ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , configured to apply a curing method under temperature and pressure to the pre-shaped fabric (k) laying on the composite laying mold ( 5 ) to produce a part (p).

3. A composite lay-up production system ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the composite lay-up mold ( 5 ) is suitable for use in a hand lay-up process for prepreg fabrics (k).

4. A composite lay-up production system ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the mandrel ( 2 ) has a conductivity value above a threshold value, allowing the inner coating ( 3 ) to be coated on the surface of the mandrel ( 2 ) with electrolysis.

5. A composite lay-up production system ( 1 ) according claim 1 , wherein the outer coating ( 4 ) is obtained by coating nickel and/or nickel alloy on said inner coating ( 3 ) by an electroless metallization or electrolytic electroforming method.

Assignees

• Tusas Turk Havacilik Ve Uzay Sanayii Anonim Sirketi

Inventors

• Aykac Busra
• Ece Remzi Ecmel
• Oz Yahya
• Erdogan Metehan
• Karakaya Ishak

Classifications

• B29K2905/08

  Transition metals · CPC title

• B29C70/30

  Shaping by lay-up, i.e. applying fibres, tape or broadsheet on a mould, former or core; Shaping by spray-up, i.e. spraying of fibres on a mould, former or core · CPC title

• C25D1/10

  Moulds; Masks; Masterforms · CPC title

• B29C43/56

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

• B29C2043/561

  under vacuum conditions · CPC title