Abstract:
A manufacturing method for producing a unitized composite material has been discovered. An assembly of loose fibers or fiber and fabric combinations is formed where at least one of the layered elements contains a bondable material such as a thermally sensitive bonding fiber. The un-bonded layered assembly is shaped into a wavy form having a repeating wave-like pattern of the desired amplitude and wavelength. The amplitude and wavelength of the repeating waves can be altered such as by changing the relative speeds of a transfer device and an oven wire and the height of the transfer device relative to the height of the oven wire using simple machinery control settings. The shaped assembly is subsequently bonded in an oven or other activation step preserving the wave-like shaping when cooled or removed from the activation effect.
Abstract:
A simplified manufacturing technique to directly form a unitized composite structure with at least one relatively flat surface and at least one sinuous element in an internally-bonded unitized composite is provided. A matrix of fibrous and or other materials is deposited in layers which are subsequently formed into corrugated or wave-like shapes and exposed to an activation step. At least one element is composed of a contractive material which shrinks when activated, such as by heating in an oven, to become relatively flat and optionally bonded to at least one other non-contractive layer which remains in a sinuous shape after the activation step.
Abstract:
A simplified manufacturing technique to directly form unitized composite structures optionally with at least one relatively flat surface and with at least one surface having raised mound-like elements in an internally-bonded unitized composite is provided. A matrix of fibrous and or other material elements is deposited in un-bonded layers. At least one element is composed of a contractive material which shrinks relative to the other component elements when activated, such as by heating in an oven, to become an internally bonded unitized composite with z-direction raised mound-like texturing after the activation step. Finished product applications and unitized composite webs suitable for finished products employing the inventions are provided.