Patent ID: 9180627
Filing Date: 2015-11-10
Classification: B29C,B29K,B29L,C08J

Abstract:
1. A heat compression molding process for the manufacturing of composite material articles, comprising: i) Providing a mold with shaped surfaces in which the negative shape of an article to be manufactured is formed; ii) Determining the volume of the article to be manufactured; iii) Calculating the weight of an SMC semi-finished product to be inserted in the mold based of the dimensions of the article to be manufactured, wherein the SMC semi-finished product includes one or more sheets of composite material comprising a matrix of a heat-hardening resin and carbon fibers; iv) Calculating the dimensions of the SMC semi-finished product needed to contact the shaped surfaces of the mold to minimize sliding of the SMC semi-finished product, the calculated dimensions based on the calculated weight of the SMC semi-finished product to be inserted in the mold; v) Pre-heating the mold at a temperature suitable to allow the cure of the heat-hardening resin; vi) Inserting the SMC semi-finished product into the mold, wherein the surfaces of the SMC semi-finished product cover the surfaces of the shape of the mold in a percentage higher than 80% and less than or equal to 99%; vii) Closing the mold; and viii) Arranging the mold in an autoclave; ix) Carrying out a compression cycle in the autoclave according to a predefined time-pressure law; x) Opening the mold; xi) Extracting the article from the mold, wherein isotropic arrangement of the carbon fibers is substantially unaltered.