Patents Assigned to Hexcel Corporation
  • MOLD FOR USE IN MAKING COMPOSITE STRUCTURES
    Publication number: 20110227249
    Abstract: Machinable composite molds for use in molding composite structures. The mold includes a mold body having a tool surface that is shaped to provide the molded surface of the composite structure. The mold body is made up of at least one mold layer composed of a quasi-isotropic material composed of a plurality of randomly oriented fiber bundles or chips impregnated with a resin. The use of randomly oriented fiber chips allows post-cure machining of the mold body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: Hexcel Corporation
    Inventor: Richard A. Callis
  • Thermoplastic-Toughened Cyanate Ester Resin Composites With Low Heat Release Properties
    Publication number: 20110212292
    Abstract: Composite materials that contain thermoplastic-toughened cyanate ester resins as the resin matrix. The composite materials exhibit low levels of heat release when burned. The matrix resins are composed of from 50 to 80 weight percent of a cyanate ester resin component. The matrix resin composition also includes from 10 to 40 weight percent of a thermoplastic blend that is composed of polyetherimide and polyamideimide. The epoxy resin composition further includes from 1 to 10 weight percent of a curative agent. The composite materials may be used for primary structures in aircraft and other load-bearing structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: Hexcel Corporation
    Inventors: Yen-Seine Wang, Yi-Jui Wu
  • Aircraft floor and interior panels using edge coated honeycomb
    Patent number: 7988809
    Abstract: Aircraft floor and interior panels where core-skin bonding is improved between honeycomb and composite face sheets (skins) by applying a polyamide and/or rubber-containing adhesive to the edge of the honeycomb prior to bonding. Edge coating of the honeycomb allows one to reduce panel weight without reducing the performance parameters that are required for different types of aircraft floor and interior panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Hexcel Corporation
    Inventors: Lance Smith, Yen-Seine Wang, Robert Morrison, Clark Smith
  • Composite materials with improved performance
    Patent number: 7972686
    Abstract: A composite material comprising at least one polymeric resin and optionally at least one fibrous reinforcement, where the polymeric resin comprises; at least one difunctional epoxy resin; and at least one epoxy resin with a functionality greater than two having at least one meta-substituted phenyl ring in its backbone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignees: Hexcel Composites, Ltd., Hexcel Corporation
    Inventors: David Tilbrook, Dana Blair, Maureen Boyle, Paul Mackenzie
  • Interlock double weave fabric and methods of making and using the same
    Patent number: 7972983
    Abstract: Woven fabrics suitable for use as a lightning strike material are disclosed. Methods of making woven fabrics are also disclosed. Methods of using woven fabrics are further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Hexcel Corporation
    Inventors: Don Taylor, Bryan Loeper, David Henderson
  • Method for molding composite structures
    Patent number: 7972548
    Abstract: Method for making, modifying and using machinable composite molds for use in molding composite structures. The mold includes a mold body having a tool surface that is shaped to provide the molded surface of the composite structure. The mold body is made up of at least one mold layer composed of a quasi-isotropic material composed of a plurality of randomly oriented fiber bundles or chips impregnated with a resin. The use of randomly oriented fiber chips allows post-cure machining of the mold body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Hexcel Corporation
    Inventor: Richard A. Callis
  • Pre-impregnated composite materials with improved performance
    Patent number: 7968179
    Abstract: Pre-impregnated composite material (prepreg) is provided that can be molded to form composite parts that have high levels of both strength and damage tolerance without causing any substantial negative impact upon the physical or chemical characteristics of the uncured prepreg or cured part. This is achieved by including in the matrix resin a substantial amount of a multifunctional aromatic epoxy resin that has at least one phenyl group that is meta-substituted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignees: Hexcel Composites, Ltd., Hexcel Corporation
    Inventors: David Tilbrook, Dana Blair, Maureen Boyle, Paul Mackenzie
  • COMPOSITE MATERIALS WITH BLEND OF THERMOPLASTIC PARTICLES
    Publication number: 20110147670
    Abstract: Pre-impregnated composite material (prepreg) is provided that can be cured to form composite parts that have high levels of damage tolerance. The matrix resin includes a thermoplastic particle component that is a blend of particles that have a melting point above the curing temperature and particles that have a melting point at or below the curing temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicants: Hexcel Corporation, Hexcel Composites Ltd.
    Inventors: David Tilbrook, Dana Blair, Maureen Boyle, Paul Mackenzie
  • Aerospace articles made from quasi-isotropic chopped prepreg
    Patent number: 7960674
    Abstract: Quasi-isotropic chopped prepreg is used to make parts found in aerospace vehicles. Exemplary aerospace parts that are made using quasi-isotropic chopped prepreg include aircraft window frames, wing fairing supports, flange supports, frame gussets, rudder actuator brackets, shear ties, seat pedestals, cargo floor flange supports, storage bin fittings, antenna supports, torque tube pans, handle boxes, side guide fittings, wing box covers and intercostals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Hexcel Corporation
    Inventors: Bruno S. Boursier, Jack D. Fudge
  • NOVEL CURING AGENTS AND PROCESS FOR THEIR MANUFACTURE
    Publication number: 20110130525
    Abstract: Compounds having the formula (I) wherein L is a linking group, at least one of R1 to R10 comprises the group C?N, at least one of R1 to R5 and at least one of R6 to R10 comprise the group NH2 for use as curing agents in an epoxy resin, together with a process for their synthesis and composites comprising the curing agents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: Hexcel Corporation Ltd
    Inventor: John Cawse
  • Prepreg Containing Epoxy Resin With Improved Flexural Properties
    Publication number: 20110118386
    Abstract: Prepreg that contains epoxy resin compositions that include an epoxy resin component and a curative powder comprising particles of 4,4?-diaminobenzanilide (DABA) wherein the size of the DABA particles is less than 100 microns and wherein the median particle size is below 20 microns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: Hexcel Corporation
    Inventor: Yen-Seine Wang
  • Edge coating for honeycomb used in panels with composite face sheets
    Patent number: 7938922
    Abstract: Core-skin bonding is improved between honeycomb and composite face sheets by applying a nylon-based (polyamide) adhesive to the edge of the honeycomb prior to bonding. Edge coating of honeycomb with polyamide adhesives is useful in further increasing the bond strength between honeycomb and prepreg face sheets, especially when the matrix resin of the prepreg is designed to adhere the prepreg to the honeycomb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Hexcel Corporation
    Inventors: Yen-Seine Wang, Robert Morrison, Clark Smith
  • Method for making composite material with blend of thermoplastic particles
    Patent number: 7923102
    Abstract: A method for making a pre-impregnated composite material (prepreg) is provided. The prepreg can be cured to form composite parts that have high levels of damage tolerance. The matrix resin includes a thermoplastic particle component that is a blend of particles that have a melting point above the curing temperature and particles that have a melting point at or below the curing temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignees: Hexcel Corporation, Hexcel Composites, Ltd.
    Inventors: David Tilbrook, Dana Blair, Maureen Boyle, Paul Mackenzie
  • ACOUSTIC SEPTUM CAP HONEYCOMB
    Publication number: 20110073407
    Abstract: An acoustic structure that includes a honeycomb having cells in which septum caps are located. The septum caps are formed from sheets of acoustic material and include a resonator portion and a flange portion. The flange portion has an anchoring surface that provides frictional engagement of the septum caps to the honeycomb cells when the caps are inserted into the honeycomb during fabrication of the acoustic structure. An adhesive is applied to the anchoring surface of the septum caps after the caps have been inserted into the honeycomb cells to provide a permanent bond.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: Hexcel Corporation
    Inventor: Earl Ayle
  • METHOD OF MOLDING COMPLEX COMPOSITE PARTS USING PRE-PLIED MULTI-DIRECTIONAL CONTINUOUS FIBER LAMINATE
    Publication number: 20110064908
    Abstract: Layers of unidirectional (UD) fiber prepreg are formed into a pre-plied, multi-directional, continuous fiber laminate that is used as a molding compound to form three dimensional structures. Cut-outs from the laminate are slotted and folded along fold lines to provide near-net-shaped preforms that may be compression molded to form fiber-reinforced composite structures having complex shapes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: Hexcel Corporation
    Inventor: Matthew Kweder
  • Epoxy resin and 4,4?-diaminobenzanilide powder
    Patent number: 7897703
    Abstract: Epoxy resin compositions that include an epoxy resin component and a curative powder comprising particles of 4,4?-diaminobenzanilide (DABA) wherein the size of the DABA particles is less than 100 microns and wherein the median particle size is below 20 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Hexcel Corporation
    Inventor: Yen-Seine Wang
  • Aerospace articles made from quasi-isotropic chopped prepreg
    Publication number: 20110011975
    Abstract: Quasi-isotropic chopped prepreg is used to make parts found in aerospace vehicles. Exemplary aerospace parts that are made using quasi-isotropic chopped prepreg include aircraft window frames, wing fairing supports, flange supports, frame gussets, rudder actuator brackets, shear ties, seat pedestals, cargo floor flange supports, storage bin fittings, antenna supports, torque tube pans, handle boxes, side guide fittings, wing box covers and intercostals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: Hexcel Corporation
    Inventors: Bruno S. Boursier, Jack D. Fudge
  • Acoustic septum cap honeycomb
    Patent number: 7854298
    Abstract: An acoustic structure that includes a honeycomb having cells in which septum caps are located. The septum caps are formed from sheets of acoustic material and include a resonator portion and a flange portion. The flange portion has an anchoring surface that provides frictional engagement of the septum caps to the honeycomb cells when the caps are inserted into the honeycomb during fabrication of the acoustic structure. An adhesive is applied to the anchoring surface of the septum caps after the caps have been inserted into the honeycomb cells to provide a permanent bond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Hexcel Corporation
    Inventor: Earl Ayle
  • EPOXY RESINS WITH IMPROVED FLEXURAL PROPERTIES
    Publication number: 20100298468
    Abstract: Epoxy resin compositions that include an epoxy resin component and a curative powder comprising particles of 4,4?-diaminobenzanilide (DABA) wherein the size of the DABA particles is less than 100 microns and wherein the median particle size is below 20 microns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: Hexcel Corporation
    Inventor: Yen-Seine Wang
  • Resin Compositions With High Thermoplastic Loading
    Publication number: 20100276055
    Abstract: Uncured thermosetting resins are loaded with relatively high amounts of solid thermoplastic resin particles to form a resin precursor. The resin precursor is heat treated so as to produce an uncured resin composition wherein the thermoplastic resin particles become substantially dissolved in the thermosetting resin without causing cure of the resin mixture. Heat treatment of highly loaded thermosetting resins in accordance with the present invention provides uncured resin compositions that are well suited for use in fabricating composite structures and particularly prepreg for use in lightning protection surface coatings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: Hexcel Corporation
    Inventor: Cary Joseph Martin