Patent ID: 9539767
Date: 2017-01-10
CPC Classifications: B29C,B29K

Claim:
1. A method of forming a composite article, comprising: initially curing a composite laminate at an initial temperature to an initial cure stage of 30-50 percent of full cure and beyond a gel point to form an initially-cured composite laminate; heating the initially-cured composite laminate to an intermediate temperature higher than the initial temperature and above a resin glass transition temperature; intermediately curing the composite laminate to an intermediate cure stage of 50-70 percent of full cure while on a final forming tool to form an intermediately-cured composite laminate; removing the intermediately-cured composite laminate from the final forming tool; and finally curing the intermediately-cured composite laminate at a final temperature higher than the intermediate temperature to a final cure stage.