Patent ID: 7727587
Filing Date: 2010-06-01
Classification: B32B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for manufacturing a composite product comprising: providing a honeycomb panel having a first face and a second opposite face with an array of hexagonal tubular cells extending between the first and second faces; providing a first press plate with a press surface in contact with the first face; providing a second press plate with a press surface in contact with the second face; at the first press plate applying a layer of a foaming agent such that the foaming agent expands from the first press plate into the cells so as to expand along the cells as the foaming agent forms the foam; providing in the second press plate an array of conduits extending from the press surface of the second press plate to a source of vacuum so as to draw air through the conduits; the cells and the conduits being arranged such that the end of each cell at the second press plate intersects with at least one of the conduits such that the drawing of air from the conduits acts to draw air from the cells; and applying onto the first face of the panel between the conduits and the first face of the panel a sheet of a material having the characteristics that it is permeable to air, substantially impermeable to liquid and resistant to bonding to the foam.