Patent ID: 9724870
Date: 2017-08-08
CPC Classifications: B29C

Claim:
1. A method of forming a composite material part, the method comprising the steps of: placing a caul on a positive feature of a mold, wherein the caul is rigid, wherein the positive feature protrudes outward or inward from a surface of the mold, wherein portions of the surface of the mold are not covered by the caul; deforming a shape memory polymer (SMP) from a relaxed state against the caul and mold into a geometry that interlocks with features of the caul such that the SMP forms a trapped geometry around the caul to thereby form an integrated SMP and caul tool; placing composite material on the integrated SMP and caul tool, wherein at least a portion of the composite material rests directly against the SMP and at least a portion of the composite material rests directly against the caul; heating the composite material to cure the composite material to form a composite material part while the SMP remains deformed; and stimulating the SMP to return to the relaxed state such that the SMP separates from the caul and the composite material part.