Patents Assigned to Hexcel Composites
  • LOW DENSITY COMPOSITE MATERIALS, THEIR PRODUCTION AND USE
    Publication number: 20150174791
    Abstract: Laminar structures comprising a fiber reinforced layer bonded to an expandable filler containing layer to provide improved flexural stiffness to weight ratio at lower fiber loading; a process for the manufacture of the laminar structures in which the material are selected so that migration of the expandable filler into the fiber structure of the fiber reinforced layer as they expand is minimised or prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: Hexcel Composites SASU
    Inventors: Claude Dauphin, Dominique Espitallier, Jimmy Grondin
  • COMPOSITE MATERIALS
    Publication number: 20150179298
    Abstract: A prepreg comprising a fibre reinforced curable resin, the prepreg containing electrically conductive particles in the range of from 0.5 to 10% by weight based on the resin, the electrically conductive particles comprising potato shaped graphite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: Hexcel Composites Limited
    Inventors: Martin Simmons, Dana Blair, David Tilbrook
  • Electromagnetic hazard protector for composite materials
    Patent number: 9051060
    Abstract: A curable flexible electromagnetic hazard resistance laminate, comprising a layer of electrically conductive metal material and thermosetting resin, wherein a first external face of the laminate comprises a releasable backing sheet in contact with resin, and a second external face of the laminate comprises resin, wherein the second external face has greater adhesiveness than the first external face with the backing sheet removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Hexcel Composites Limited
    Inventors: Emilie Fisset, John Ellis, Paul Mackenzie
  • Electromagnetic hazard protector for composite materials
    Patent number: 9051059
    Abstract: A curable flexible electromagnetic hazard resistance laminate, comprising a layer of electrically conductive metal material and thermosetting resin, wherein an external face of the laminate comprises a releasable backing sheet in contact with resin, and the laminate further comprises a substantially non-reshapable sheet of solid material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Hexcel Composites Limited
    Inventors: Emilie Fisset, John Ellis, Paul Mackenzie
  • Process for manufacturing composite materials
    Patent number: 9051444
    Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a prepreg comprising feeding a layer of unidirectional conductive fibers having a defined width, bringing into contact with a first face of the fibers a first layer of resin comprising thermosetting resin, and compressing the resin and fibers together by passing over one or more impregnation rollers, wherein the pressure exerted onto the conductive fibers and resin does not exceed 40 kg per centimeter of the width of the conductive fibers, and the resin being in sufficient amount for the resin to enter the interstices of the fibers and leave a first outer layer of resin essentially free of unidirectional conductive fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignees: Hexcel Composites Limited, Hexcel Composites, S.A.S.
    Inventors: John Ellis, Emille Fisset, David Tilbrook, Paul Mackenzie, Isabelle Blanc, Lucien Fiore, Bernadette Tizon
  • Composite material for structural applications
    Patent number: 9034975
    Abstract: Composite material that contain epoxy resin which is toughened and strengthened with thermoplastic materials and a blend of insoluble particles. The uncured matrix resins include an epoxy resin component, a soluble thermoplastic component, a curing agent and an insoluble particulate component composed of elastic particles and rigid particles. The uncured resin matrix is combined with a fibrous reinforcement and cured/molded to form composite materials that may be used for structural applications, such as primary structures in aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignees: Hexcel Corporation, Hexcel Composites Limited
    Inventors: Maureen Boyle, Dana Blair, Yi-Jui Wu, Yen-Seine Wang, Bryce Floryancic, Paul Mackenzie
  • Curing agents
    Patent number: 8986825
    Abstract: The invention relates to a resin curing agent having the formula (I), wherein R1 to R4 are each individually selected from linear or branched C1 to C5 alkyl, a process for its manufacture, blends of the reaction products, and two-component curable resin systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Hexcel Composites Limited
    Inventors: Steve Mortimer, Neal Patel, John Cawse
  • Resin curing agents
    Patent number: 8981033
    Abstract: A curable resin comprising a curing agent, wherein the curing agent comprises an adjustable structural unit having a stable chain-like arrangement which is adjustable to a stable ring-like arrangement, wherein the ring-like arrangement comprises the constituents of the chain-like arrangement with two terminal constituents exhibiting an attractive chemical interaction, and is adjustable back from the ring-like arrangement to the chain-like arrangement by separation of the two terminal constituents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hexcel Composites Limited
    Inventor: John Cawse
  • Composite materials
    Patent number: 8980770
    Abstract: A composite material, the composite material comprising at least one prepreg, said prepreg comprising at least one polymeric resin and at least one fibrous reinforcement; and conducting particles dispersed in the polymeric resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hexcel Composites Limited
    Inventors: John L. Cawse, Martin Simmons, George Green
  • Composite materials
    Patent number: 8980771
    Abstract: A composite material, the composite material comprising at least one prepreg, said prepreg comprising at least one polymeric resin and at least one fibrous reinforcement; and conducting particles dispersed in the polymeric resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hexcel Composites Limited
    Inventors: John L. Cawse, Martin Simmons, George Green
  • Thermosetting resin containing irradiated thermoplastic toughening agent
    Patent number: 8946322
    Abstract: Thermosetting resins are provided that are toughened with an irradiated thermoplastic toughening agent and which have reduced levels of solvent-induced micro crack formation. The thermoplastic toughening agent is treated with a sufficient amount of high-energy radiation (e.g. electron beam or gamma rays) to cause a reduction in solvent-induced micro crack formation in the cured resin when compared to the same toughened thermosetting resin in which the non-irradiated version of the thermoplastic toughening agent is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Hexcel Composites Ltd
    Inventors: John L. Cawse, Stephen Mortimer, Chrisopher J. Wade
  • Composite materials
    Patent number: 8940381
    Abstract: A curable prepreg or semipreg material comprising a layer of fibers and a substantially non-flowable curable resin having a layer of porous sheet material on an outer surface, the material allows automatic lay-up of high fiber content prepregs or semiprepregs typically used in industrial applications such as wind turbine blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Hexcel Composites, Ltd
    Inventor: John Ellis
  • Composite material assembly
    Patent number: 8932697
    Abstract: A composite material assembly (1) comprises a) a surface enhancing layer (5) comprising at least one layer of fibers, having a length to width aspect ratio of more than 5:1 and b) a structural layer (7) comprising at least one reinforcing fiber and at least one polymeric matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Hexcel Composites Limited
    Inventors: Armin Heidrich, Mark Whiter, David Tilbrook
  • Composite materials
    Patent number: 8906481
    Abstract: A prepreg assembly comprising resin and fibers and comprising an uppermost curable resin surface layer such that when the assembly is cured, the uppermost surface layer has a sandability of at least 0.30 mg/cycle over 200 cycles, as measured according to ASTM D4060 using a Taber 5151 Abrasion Tester fitted with H18 wheels and a 1.0 kg weight is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Hexcel Composites
    Inventor: Mark Whiter
  • Conductivity of resin materials and composite materials
    Patent number: 8900486
    Abstract: A resin material is provided which comprises at least one thermoset resin, carbon conductive additive material, and at least one thermoplastic polymer resin. The thermoplastic polymer resin dissolves in the thermoset polymer resin and phase separates upon cure. There is also provided a method of making the resin material, and additionally a composite material that comprising said resin material in combination with a fibrous reinforcement. The resin material and composite material may each be used in an uncured or cured form, and may find particular use as a prepreg material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Hexcel Composites Limited
    Inventors: Martin Simmons, John Cawse
  • FIBRE REINFORCED MATERIALS
    Publication number: 20140335361
    Abstract: A process for the production of a fibre reinforced thermoset resin. The process comprises impregnating a structural fibrous layer with a liquid thermosetting resin composition to form a prepreg, and subsequently curing the thermosetting resin, wherein at the time of impregnation an additional resin component is provided separately to the prepreg, the thermosetting resin composition being free of said additional resin component other than the thermosetting resin, and additional resins are provided to become integrated with the thermosetting resin during curing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: HEXCEL COMPOSITES LIMITED
    Inventors: John Ellis, Jean-Marc Beraud
  • METHOD FOR ON-LINE CONTROL OF A MANUFACTURING PROCESS FOR A MULTICOMPONENT SHEET MATERIAL
    Publication number: 20140316551
    Abstract: A method of controlling a process for the manufacture of a multicomponent sheet material having a desired pre-determined parameter comprising applying an acoustic or an electromagnetic signal to interact with the sheet material whereby the interaction modifies the applied signal, detecting the modified signal, comparing the modified signal or data derived from it with data relating to the pre-determined parameter and modifying at least one step of the process whereby the data relating to the modified signal is modified towards the data relating to the pre-determined parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: HEXCEL COMPOSITES LIMITED
    Inventors: John Ellis, Andrea Caballero
  • Cure accelerators
    Patent number: 8859694
    Abstract: An epoxy resin composition comprising an epoxy resin component combined with a sufficient amount of an imidazole curative to provide curing of the epoxy resin composition. The epoxy resin composition further includes a non-hydroxyl containing cure accelerator for the imidazole curative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Hexcel Composites Limited
    Inventors: Philip C. Hadley, Michelle M. Irons, John Cawse
  • COMPOSITE MATERIALS
    Publication number: 20140287638
    Abstract: A structure or laminate comprising a fibrous reinforcement material and a reinforcement resin material are described, wherein the structure or laminate further comprises a tack material, the tack material increasing the surface tack of the structure or laminate over a tack temperature range of from ?10° C. to 50° C. in comparison to the original surface tack of the structure or laminate in the absence of the tack material over the same tack temperature range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: Hexcel Composites Limited
    Inventor: Philip Hadley
  • Structural adhesive materials
    Patent number: 8840813
    Abstract: An adhesive material comprising at least one adhesive polymeric resin, at least one low aspect ratio metal-coated additive, and at least one high aspect ratio metal-coated additive. There is additionally provided an adhesive material comprising at least one adhesive polymeric resin, and one of either; a) low aspect ratio metal-coated additives present in the range 0.2 wt. % to 30 wt. % of the adhesive material; or b) discrete high aspect ratio metal-coated additives present in the range 0.2 wt. % to 25 wt. % of the adhesive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Hexcel Composites Limited
    Inventors: Ian Aspin, Marine Godot