Patent ID: 9039951
Filing Date: 2015-05-26
Classification: B29C,B29K,C08G,C08J,C08K,C08L,D06M,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of fabricating a composite structure comprising: preparing a curable resin composition having a viscosity suitable for Resin Transfer Molding (RTM); the curable resin composition comprising: i. at least one multifunctional epoxy resin having an epoxy functionality greater than 1; ii. an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic amine curing agent capable of individually initiating a curing reaction of said multifunctional epoxy resin at a cure onset temperature within the range of 30° C.-100° C. and selected from the group consisting of: isophorone diamine, triethylamine, diethylamine, triethylenetetramine (TETA), and polyether amines; and iii. an aromatic amine curing agent capable of individually initiating a curing reaction of said multifunctional epoxy resin at a cure onset temperature of 120° C. or greater and selected from the group consisting of: 3,3′-diaminodiphenylsulphone, 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulphone, 4,4′-methylene-bis-(3-chloro-2,6-diethylaniline) (MCDEA), 4,4′-methylene-bis-(2,6-diethylaniline) (MDEA), 2,6-diethylaniline (DEA), and dianiline; infusing a fiber preform comprised of reinforcement fibers with said curable resin composition via a Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) process; and curing the infused fiber preform for 5 minutes or less at a temperature below said cure onset temperature of the aromatic amine curing agent to produce a cured composite structure with a degree of cure of 95% or greater.