Patent ID: 6454893
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: B29C,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of intentionally inflicting controlled damage to create a conformable material, comprising the steps of:(a) impregnating continuous unidirectional collimated fibers with a resinous matrix to form a web, which is then cut to define sheets of material wherein the fibers extend in a longitudinal direction; (b) forming a series of slits in the sheets that are diagonal to the longitudinal direction of the fibers, such that the collimated fibers are cut into segmented fibers having precisely-controlled lengths and ends that are diagonal to the longitudinal direction; and (c) laying the sheets on a tool having a corrugated contour with multiple peaks to form a laminate in which the segmented fibers have lengths that are less than a period of the corrugated contour as as to avoid the fiber ends being pinned against adjacent peaks.