Patent ID: 8404311

Claim:
A method for making a composite material that is suitable for storage at ambient temperatures, said method comprising the steps of: providing a porous body comprising an exterior surface and interior surfaces located within said porous body, said interior surfaces further defining interstitial spaces located within said porous body; providing an uncured resin component that forms a cured resin when exposed to a curing agent and heated to a resin component curing temperature that is higher than said ambient temperature, said uncured resin component comprising a liquid part including one or more liquid thermosetting resins and a solid part that comprises particles of one or more solid thermosetting resins wherein said solid part is dispersed within said liquid part, and wherein said particles have a melting point that is above said ambient temperature and below said resin component curing temperature, said uncured resin component further comprising a gelation agent that is present in a sufficient amount to form said liquid part into a gel that is sufficiently gelatinous to maintain said particles in suspension within said liquid part at said ambient temperatures, said gelation agent having a melting temperature that is below said resin component curing temperature and wherein the viscosity of said uncured resin component changes from a high viscosity state to a low viscosity state when the temperature of said uncured resin component is increased from said ambient temperature to said resin component curing temperature and wherein said high viscosity state is substantially more viscous than said low viscosity state; locating said uncured resin component at the exterior surface of said porous body, said uncured resin component being in said high viscosity state such that said uncured resin does not flow into said interstitial spaces at said ambient temperatures; providing a curative component that comprises a curing agent for said uncured resin component; and locating said curative component at the interior surfaces of said porous body, said curative component being located such that said curative component remains separated from said uncured resin component while said uncured resin component remains in said high viscosity state at said exterior surface during storage of said composite material at said ambient temperature.