Patent ID: 7709083

Claim:
A composite material that is suitable for storage at ambient temperatures, said composite material comprising: 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; an uncured resin component that forms a cured resin when exposed to a curing agent and heated to a 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 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 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 curing temperature and wherein said high viscosity state is substantially more viscous than said low viscosity state; and a curative component comprising a curing agent for said uncured resin component, said curative component being located at the interior surfaces of said porous body and said uncured resin component being located at said exterior surface of said porous body, the curative component being separated from said uncured resin component during storage of said composite material at said ambient temperatures.