Patent ID: 9302456
Filing Date: 2016-04-05
CPC Classification: B29C,B29K,B29L,B32B,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A method of producing a panel for lining or cladding an aircraft interior, such as an aircraft cargo hold, the method comprising: arranging at least one resin layer of a thermo-plastic polymer and at least one reinforcement layer of reinforcement fibres upon one another in a stack, wherein each resin layer extends adjacent to and/or substantially parallel to each reinforcement layer; and consolidating the stack to form a panel by applying heat and pressure to the stack, wherein the pressure is applied to the stack in a direction substantially perpendicular to a primary plane of the layers, and wherein the pressure is applied to the stack in a non-constant distribution or a non-uniform distribution over the primary plane according to a distribution pattern; wherein the distribution pattern includes regions of higher pressure and regions of lower pressure, the regions of higher pressure and the regions of lower pressure being provided in a regular pattern according to a distribution mask, wherein the distribution mask comprises a profiled pressure plate for pressing onto the stack, wherein the pressure plate has raised or projecting portions forming the regions of higher pressure and recesses or grooves between the raised portions defining the regions of lower pressure, and wherein the regions of lower pressure cover substantially more area in the primary plane than the regions of higher pressure.