Patent ID: 6613169
Filing Date: 2003-09-02
Classification: B29C,G01N

Abstract:
A thermoplastic rewelding method for forming a thermoplastic weld between at least two, fiber-reinforced composite laminates containing thermoplastic resin and repairing welded areas of inadequate strength, comprising the steps of:(a) assembling at least two, fiber-reinforced, composite laminates containing thermoplastic resin to define a bond line along faying surfaces of the laminates; (b) positioning a metal mesh susceptor along the bond line; (c) heating the laminates along the bond line to form a thermoplastic weld between the laminates by inductively heating the metal mesh susceptor to melt, intermix, and fuse the resin around the metal mesh susceptor to weld the laminates together; (d) nondestructively evaluating the thermoplastic weld quality by analyzing acoustic signals generated by electromagnetic pulses absorbed in the metal mesh susceptor; and (e) rewelding in at least those regions of the thermoplastic weld found to have inadequate strength by reheating the metal mesh susceptor.