Patent ID: 6264868
Filing Date: 2001-07-24
Classification: B29C,B29K,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for manufacturing a hollow component made of a hot-polymerizing resin/fiber composite, the component (1) comprising enclosing walls (3) which subtend at least one cavity (2), the method using a mold (7) which forms the outside shape of the component (1), the method comprising the steps of:providing at least one dual-element core (11) which corresponds to the shape of the at least one cavity (2), wherein the at least one core (11) comprises a body (12) clad by a silicone-elastomer layer (13) having a thermal expansion coefficient a higher than a thermal expansion coefficient of the body (12) and a thermal expansion coefficient of the mold (7), and a thickness ""e"" selected to provide a desired compression to be applied to the fiber composite;cladding the at least one core (11) with at least one resin preimpregnated layer of fiber to form the composite (6) for the component (1);arranging the at least one core and the composite (6) in the mold (7);hot-polymerizing the resin such that the at least one core (11) exerts an outward compression, generated by thermal expansion of said silicone-elastomer layer during resin polymerization, against the composite (6), wherein said body (12) and said silicone-elastomer layer (13) expand as a solid during resin polymerization; anddisintegrating the silicone-elastomer layer (13) during resin polymerization, said silicone-elastomer layer (13) having a disintegration temperature which is less than the final resin-hardening temperature of the resin, wherein said body (12) is removed from said hollow composite after resin polymerization.