Carbon fiber fabric cleaning and finishing

    公开(公告)号:US09903068B2

    公开(公告)日:2018-02-27

    申请号:US14707233

    申请日:2015-05-08

    申请人: Shobha Murari

    发明人: Shobha Murari

    摘要: A process to clean carbon fiber fabric of a pre-applied sizing, while simultaneously activating or preparing the fabric to receive a polymer resin is described. The cleaning process and chemistry combines an enzymatic cleaning solution with an oxidizing agent. The enzymatic solution strips the fibers of lubricants, surfactants, and other chemicals of the sizing which might otherwise interfere with interfacial properties and bonding of the fabric to the matrix resin. The inclusion of an oxidizing agent concurrently adds hydroxyl groups to the surface of the fabric allowing for the grafting of organic copolymers to the surface of the fabric, the copolymer being chosen based upon the desired polymer resin. This process provides a customized finished carbon fiber fabric to bond to a specific polymer resin, without interference resulting from an inadequate fiber sizing chemistry. In this way, a customizable finished fabric may be manufactured.

    CARBON FIBER PRE-PREGS AND METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING THEREOF

    公开(公告)号:US20180016740A1

    公开(公告)日:2018-01-18

    申请号:US15211814

    申请日:2016-07-15

    摘要: Methods and components produced from carbon fiber pre-impregnated composite precursor materials (pre-preg) having enhanced flowability and moldability are provided. Discontinuous cut regions are introduced into a pre-preg. A sheet of pre-preg may be contacted with a patterned surface having a plurality of non-contiguous staggered cutters, so that the contacting creates discontinuous cuts in the pre-preg. A plurality of staggered discontinuous cut regions are formed in the plurality of continuous carbon fibers that define a first plurality of carbon fibers having a first length and a second plurality of carbon fibers having a second distinct length. The patterned surface may be provided on a cutter device that is a roller or a plate having the non-contiguous staggered cutters formed or disposed thereon. The discontinuous cut regions that are formed in the pre-preg reduce stiffness and improve moldability/flowability when forming carbon fiber polymeric composites, while retaining high strength levels.