Abstract: A method for fabricating fiber-reinforced composite structures, including centrifuge rotors, by resin transfer molding (RTM) is disclosed. The method involves loading reinforcing fibers into a mold and then injecting resin into the mold to coat the fibers to form the composite structure. Two types of reinforcing fibers are used—fabric preforms at the surfaces of the structure and chopped fibers at the interior of the structure. Also disclosed is a fiber-reinforced composite structure comprising a skin layer of reinforcing fabric, chopped fibers distributed throughout the interior of the structure, and epoxy resin that binds the fabric and chopped fibers together into a fiber-reinforced composite structure. The resin transfer molding method is especially useful for fabricating composite centrifuge rotors.

Abstract: A method for fabricating fiber-reinforced composite structures, including centrifuge rotors, by resin transfer molding (RTM) is disclosed. The method involves loading reinforcing fibers into a mold and then injecting resin into the mold to coat the fibers to form the composite structure. Two types of reinforcing fibers are used--fabric preforms at the surfaces of the structure and chopped fibers at the interior of the structure. Also disclosed is a fiber-reinforced composite structure comprising a skin layer of reinforcing fabric, chopped fibers distributed throughout the interior of the structure, and epoxy resin that binds the fabric and chopped fibers together into a fiber-reinforced composite structure. The resin transfer molding method is especially useful for fabricating composite centrifuge rotors.

Abstract: A fixed-angle centrifuge rotor fabricated from fiber-reinforced composite material includes a rotor plate, composite tube holders, and a hub to attach the rotor plate to a centrifuge. The rotor plate has counterbored through holes with each counterbore defining an annular step. The tube holders are cylindrical in shape and are mounted to the rotor plate in each of the counterbored through holes. Each tube holder has an circumferential flange that mates with and is bonded to the annular step in a counterbore of the rotor plate.

Abstract: A fixed-angle centrifuge rotor fabricated from fiber-reinforced composite material including a composite rotor plate, composite tube holders, and a hub to attach the rotor plate to a centrifuge. The rotor plate has counterbored through holes with each counterbore defining an annular step. The tube holders are cylindrical in shape and are mounted to the rotor plate in each of the counterbored through holes. Each tube holder has an circumferential flange that mates with and is bonded to the annular step in a counterbore of the rotor plate.

Abstract: A fixed-angle centrifuge rotor fabricated from fiber-reinforced composite material includes fibers for reinforcing radially outer portions of the cell holes in a direction transverse to the laminated layers of the rotor core. In one embodiment, the reinforcement fibers are in a reinforcement shell of fiber-reinforced composite material wound over the periphery of the rotor core. In another embodiment, the reinforcement fibers are in a reinforcement cup of fiber-reinforced composite material bonded into each of the cell holes. In a third embodiment, the reinforcement fibers are in a formed region of the laminated layers to orient the fibers therein obliquely to the rotor axis.