Issued patent
Fabrication of Fiber-Metal Laminates with Non-Autoclave Processes
An issued NASA patent from the Technology Transfer catalog.
About this technology
Overview
NASAs Langley Research Center developed a new technique that enables the preparation of metal/composite hybrid laminates, also known as fiber-metal laminates (FML), through a one-step processing method. Currently FMLs are prepared by a compression process using a press or autoclave with metallic layers sandwiched between layers of glass or graphite prepreg (preimpregnated fibers with a matrix resin). NASAs process essentially eliminates the need to produce prepreg prior to the production of a hybrid laminate. It also allows the production of large, net shape structures that were previously not possible with autoclave or press technologies due to size constraints. This infiltration and infusion process can be accomplished using pressure (resin transfer molding [RTM]), or a vacuum induced pressure differential (vacuum assisted resin transfer molding [VARTM]).