Patents Assigned to Hexcel Composites
  • COMPOSITE MATERIALS
    Publication number: 20140217332
    Abstract: A prepreg comprising a fibre reinforced curable resin, the curable resin being composed of 25 to 35 weight percent tetrafunctional epoxy resin based on the total weight of the curable resin; 18 to 28 weight percent difunctional epoxy resin; 4 to 18 weight percent polyether sulfone; 2 to 10 weight percent polyamide 12 particles; 2 to 10 weight percent polyamide 11 particles; 1 to 8 weight percent potato shaped graphite particles; and 17.4 to 27.4 weight percent of a curing agent for said curable resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicants: HEXCEL CORPORATION, HEXCEL COMPOSITES LIMITED
    Inventors: Martin Simmons, Dana Blair, David Tilbrook, Maureen Boyle
  • Composite material
    Patent number: 8795820
    Abstract: A composite material (1) comprising at least one prepreg (3), said prepreg comprising at least one polymeric resin and optionally at least one fibrous reinforcement; and a conducting ink (2) applied to at least one surface of said prepreg (3); where the conducting ink (2) has a surface tension lower than the surface energy of the at least one surface of said prepreg (3) to which the ink (2) is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Hexcel Composites Limited
    Inventor: John Leslie Cawse
  • Process for prolonging the processing window of thermosetting resins
    Patent number: 8747720
    Abstract: The processing window for thermosetting resins that contain particulate hardeners is prolonged using the combined steps of heat-treating the resin to form a low-viscosity resin mixture in which the particles are dissolved and then molding the low-viscosity resin mixture at temperatures below the dissolution temperature of the particles to infuse a fibrous preform. The infused resin preform is heated to the curing temperature of the resin to provide final curing of the resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignees: Hexcel Composites, S.A.S., Hexcel Composites, Ltd.
    Inventors: Stephen Mortimer, Neal Patel, Estaban Vilalon
  • THERMOPLASTIC TOUGHENING MATERIAL AND RELATED METHOD
    Publication number: 20140110877
    Abstract: A non-fibrous, apertured membrane comprises at least one thermoplastic polymeric material and has a discrete porous structure. The membrane is soluble in the thermoset matrix polymer of a composite material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: Hexcel Composites Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Mortimer, John Cawse
  • COMPOSITE MATERIALS
    Publication number: 20130330514
    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 glassy carbon particles dispersed in the polymeric resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: Hexcel Composites Limited
    Inventors: John Cawse, Martin Simmons, George Green
  • COMPOSITE MATERIAL FOR STRUCTURAL APPLICATIONS
    Publication number: 20130260022
    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: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicants: Hexcel Composites Limited, Hexcel Corporation
    Inventors: Maureen Boyle, Dana Blair, Yi-Jui Wu, Yen-Seine Wang, Bryce Floryancic, Paul Mackenzie
  • Composite materials
    Patent number: 8517300
    Abstract: A composite material, the composite material comprising a prepreg, said prepreg comprising at least one polymeric resin and at least one conductive fibrous reinforcement, electrically conducting particles dispersed in the polymeric resin and a top layer of a metal-coated carbon fiber comprising a further resin component, wherein the metal comprises one or more metals selected from nickel, copper, gold, platinum, palladium, indium and silver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Hexcel Composites Limited
    Inventors: Martin Simmons, John Cawse
  • NOVEL RESIN CURING AGENTS
    Publication number: 20130217803
    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: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: HEXCEL COMPOSITES LIMITED
    Inventor: John Cawse
  • Fibre reinforced assembly
    Patent number: 8501309
    Abstract: An uncured assembly which comprises a fibrous reinforcement. Associated with said reinforcement is a resin material comprising at least one solid amine-terminated epoxy resin, at least one solid epoxy-terminated epoxy resin and optionally at least one cure catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Hexcel Composites Limited
    Inventor: John Cawse
  • Composite material for structural applications
    Patent number: 8470923
    Abstract: Composite material that contain epoxy resin which is toughened and strengthened with thermoplastic materials and a blend 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: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignees: Hexcel Corporation, Hexcel Composites Limited
    Inventors: Maureen Boyle, Dana Blair, Yi-Jui Wu, Yen-Seine Wang, Bryce Floryancic, Paul Mackenzie
  • COMPOSITE MATERIALS
    Publication number: 20130122277
    Abstract: A strip of curable prepreg comprising unidirectional fibres aligned with the length of the strip, the fibres being at least partially impregnated with curable thermosetting resin and comprising a flexible polymeric sheet on an outer face of the strip, wherein the strip has a substantially rectangular cross-section defining a width and a thickness of the strip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: Hexcel Composites Limited
    Inventors: John Ellis, Emilie Fisset
  • NOVEL CURING AGENTS
    Publication number: 20130102756
    Abstract: A curable resin comprising a compound having the structure (I): wherein each carbon 2, together with either its carbon 1 or carbon 3, arc members of a fused cycloaliphatic ring, and when carbon 1 is a member of the ring so is N, and wherein each of the aliphatic or aromatic ring-member carbons may either be members of further fused cycloaliphatic rings or be bonded to a group selected from H or linear or branched C1 to C5 alkyl.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: HEXCEL COMPOSITES LIMITED
    Inventor: John Cawse
  • COMPOSITE MATERIALS
    Publication number: 20130090414
    Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a cured composite material, the process comprising the steps of blending together a liquid curable resin and a curing agent having a melting point greater than 100° C. to form a liquid blend of curable resin and curing agent, at least partially impregnating a structural fibre arrangement with the blended curable resin and curing agent to form a curable composite material, followed by curing the composite material by exposure to elevated temperature and at a pressure of no greater than 3 bar absolute to form a cured composite material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: Hexcel Composites Limited
    Inventor: Steve Mortimer
  • Gelator-stabilized crystalline resins
    Patent number: 8404311
    Abstract: A resin composition that is storable at ambient temperatures. The resin composition forms a cured resin when exposed to a curing agent and heated to a curing temperature that is relatively close to ambient temperature. The resin composition includes a resin component that is composed of a liquid part that is made up of one or more liquid thermosetting resins and a solid part that includes particles of one or more solid thermosetting resins. The liquid part further includes a gelation agent that is present in a sufficient amount to maintain the particles in suspension within the liquid part at ambient temperatures. The viscosity of the resin component changes from a high viscosity state to a low viscosity state when the temperature is increased from ambient temperature to the curing temperature. The high viscosity state is substantially more viscous than the low viscosity state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Hexcel Composites, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chris Harrington, Philip C. Hadley
  • COMPOSITE MATERIALS
    Publication number: 20130071626
    Abstract: A prepreg comprising a single structural layer of electrically conductive unidirectional fibers and a first outer layer of curable resin substantially free of structural fibers, and optionally a second outer layer of curable resin substantially free of structural fibers, the sum of the thicknesses of the first and second outer resin layers at a given point having an average of at least 10 micrometers and varying over at least the range of from 50% to 120% of the average value, and wherein the first outer layer comprises electrically conductive particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: HEXCEL COMPOSITES LIMITED
    Inventors: Martin Simmons, John Ellis
  • Composite Tape For Use In Tape Laying Machines
    Publication number: 20130065068
    Abstract: A tape for use in automated tape laying machines that includes a multi-layer substrate composed of a plastic layer that includes at least one plastic film having an outer film surface and an inner film surface. The plastic film is adhered to a fibrous layer so that the inner surface of the fibrous layer is bonded to the inner film surface. An uncured composite material layer composed of a fibrous reinforcement and an uncured resin matrix is releasably adhered to either the plastic layer surface or the outer fiber layer surface to provide a tape suitable for use in an automatic tape layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: Hexcel Composites Limited
    Inventor: Hexcel Composites Limited
  • STRUCTURED THERMOPLASTIC IN COMPOSITE INTERLEAVES
    Publication number: 20130065471
    Abstract: One or more layers of structured thermoplastic polymer (14, 16, 24), such as a light weight veil of thermoplastic polymer fibers (14, 16, 24), are located within the interleaf zone of laminates that are composed of fibrous layers and thermosetting resin (12, 22). The thermoplastic veils (14, 16, 24) are used in the interleaf zones as a replacement for thermoplastic toughening particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: HEXCEL COMPOSITES LIMITED
    Inventor: Stephen Mortimer
  • COMPOSITE MATERIALS
    Publication number: 20130011653
    Abstract: A curable sheet-like composite material comprising curable resin and at least one layer of structural fibres, and comprising an outer backing layer having a shear-dependent rheology, whereby the backing layer exhibits essentially no flow at rest on the outer surface of the composite material and exhibits a viscous flow response to induced shear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: HEXCEL COMPOSITES LIMITED
    Inventor: Mark Whiter
  • PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING COMPOSITE MATERIALS
    Publication number: 20130005205
    Abstract: The invention relates to a prepreg comprising a structural layer of conductive fibres comprising thermosetting resin in the interstices, and a first outer layer of resin comprising thermosetting resin, and comprising a population of conductive free filaments located at the interface between the structural layer and the outer resin layer which, when cured under elevated temperature, produces a cured composite material comprising a cured structural layer of packed conductive fibres and a first outer layer of cured resin, the outer layer of cured resin, comprising a proportion of the population of conductive free filaments dispersed therein, and to a process for manufacturing prepregs wherein the electrically conductive fibres pass a fibre disrupting means to cause a proportion of the fibres on an external face of the sheet to become free filaments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: HEXCEL COMPOSITES LIMITED
    Inventors: Emilie Fisset, John Ellis
  • NOVEL CURING AGENTS
    Publication number: 20120316262
    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: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: HEXCEL COMPOSITES LIMITED
    Inventors: Steve Mortimer, Neal Patel, John Cawse