Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and computer program product for manufacturing an unconsolidated composite material. Sensor data is received from a sensor system for a composite material manufacturing system, wherein the sensor data is received during manufacturing of the unconsolidated composite material by the composite material manufacturing system. A set of predicted properties is determined for a number of portions of the unconsolidated composite material as completed from manufacturing by the composite material manufacturing system using the sensor data. A quality level for the number of portions of the unconsolidated composite material is identified based on the set of predicted properties for the number of portions of the unconsolidated composite material.

Abstract: Uncured composite structures, cured composite structures, and methods of curing uncured composite structures are disclosed herein. The uncured composite structures include a structural layer that includes an uncured structural resin and a surface layer that includes an uncured surface resin. The cured composite structures include a cured structural layer that includes a cured structural resin, a cured surface layer that includes a cured surface resin, and an interface region between the cured surface layer and the cured structural layer. The methods include initially heating the uncured composite structure to an initial temperature to generate a partially cured composite structure. The initially heating is sufficient to gel the uncured surface resin but insufficient to gel the uncured structural resin. The methods also include subsequently heating the partially cured composite structure to a final cure temperature, which is greater than the initial temperature, to generate the cured composite structure.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, computer program product, and a method for manufacturing an unconsolidated composite material. Sensor data is received from a sensor system for a composite material manufacturing system. The sensor data is received during manufacturing an unconsolidated composite material by the composite material manufacturing system. A set of predicted properties is determined for a number of portions of the unconsolidated composite material using the sensor data. The set of predicted properties is for the number of portions of the unconsolidated composite material as a completed product. A corrective action is performed based on a quality level for the number of portions of the unconsolidated composite material.

Abstract: Uncured composite structures, cured composite structures, and methods of curing uncured composite structures are disclosed herein. The uncured composite structures include a structural layer that includes an uncured structural resin and a surface layer that includes an uncured surface resin. The cured composite structures include a cured structural layer that includes a cured structural resin, a cured surface layer that includes a cured surface resin, and an interface region between the cured surface layer and the cured structural layer. The methods include initially heating the uncured composite structure to an initial temperature to generate a partially cured composite structure. The initially heating is sufficient to gel the uncured surface resin but insufficient to gel the uncured structural resin. The methods also include subsequently heating the partially cured composite structure to a final cure temperature, which is greater than the initial temperature, to generate the cured composite structure.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for fabrication of enhanced carbon fiber laminates that utilize encapsulated catalyst. One embodiment is a method that includes acquiring a batch of dry fibers, and acquiring a batch of catalyst capsules that each comprise catalyst that accelerates polymerization of monomers of a resin, and a shell that encapsulates the catalyst and liquefies at a curing temperature. The method further includes interspersing the catalyst capsules among the dry fibers, and impregnating the fibers with the resin after interspersing the catalyst capsules with the fibers.

Abstract: A system and method for manufacturing composite parts has been developed which offers the ability to produce composite parts in an infusion resin process without the use of expensive preforms or tools. In addition, the methods of manufacturing composite parts described herein offer the ability to produce composite parts having complex structures without the need for complex tooling. The method of manufacturing and systems described herein typically include printing a part skeleton using an additive manufacturing process followed by infusing the part skeleton with resin and curing the resin infused part skeleton to form the composite part.

Abstract: Carbon fiber composite additives, media incorporating the carbon fiber composites, and related methods are provided herein. In some aspects, a composition includes at least one medium; and a carbon fiber composite incorporated with the at least one medium, the carbon fiber composite including one or more carbon fibers with an epoxy resin matrix applied thereto to produce a composition having improved characteristics and filtration performance.

Abstract: A method for indicating a sanitation status of a surface may comprise contacting a coating on a surface with a cleaning composition, wherein the coating comprises a chromic material and exhibits a baseline optical state under illumination with light having a first wavelength prior to contact with the cleaning composition and an altered optical state under illumination with light having a second wavelength after contact with the cleaning composition, the cleaning composition configured to induce a switch from the baseline optical state to the altered optical state; and illuminating the coating with the first wavelength of light, the second wavelength of light, or both, to reveal a sanitation status of the surface. Systems for indicating a sanitation status of a surface are also provided.

Abstract: A method for forming a composite structure includes the steps of: forming a fiber-reinforced polymer paste to a shape of a cavity of a dry fiber preform structure; heating said dry fiber preform structure having said fiber-reinforced polymer in said cavity to an infusion temperature; infusing resin into said dry fiber preform structure and around said fiber-reinforced polymer; and curing said resin-infused fiber preform structure and said fiber-reinforced polymer at a cure temperature higher than said infusion temperature.

Abstract: A system and method for manufacturing composite parts has been developed which offers the ability to produce composite parts in an infusion resin process without the use of expensive preforms or tools. In addition, the methods of manufacturing composite parts described herein offer the ability to produce composite parts having complex structures without the need for complex tooling. The method of manufacturing and systems described herein typically include printing a part skeleton using an additive manufacturing process followed by infusing the part skeleton with resin and curing the resin infused part skeleton to form the composite part.

Abstract: A system and method for manufacturing composite parts has been developed which offers the ability to produce composite parts in an infusion resin process without the use of expensive preforms or tools. In addition, the methods of manufacturing composite parts described herein offer the ability to produce composite parts having complex structures without the need for complex tooling. The method of manufacturing and systems described herein typically include printing a part skeleton using an additive manufacturing process followed by infusing the part skeleton with resin and curing the resin infused part skeleton to form the composite part.

Abstract: Carbon fiber composite additives, media incorporating the carbon fiber composites, and related methods are provided herein. In some aspects, a composition includes at least one medium; and a carbon fiber composite incorporated with the at least one medium, the carbon fiber composite including one or more carbon fibers with an epoxy resin matrix applied thereto to produce a composition having improved characteristics and filtration performance.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for fabrication of enhanced carbon fiber laminates that utilize encapsulated catalyst. One embodiment is a method that includes acquiring a batch of dry fibers, and acquiring a batch of catalyst capsules that each comprise catalyst that accelerates polymerization of monomers of a resin, and a shell that encapsulates the catalyst and liquefies at a curing temperature. The method further includes interspersing the catalyst capsules among the dry fibers, and impregnating the fibers with the resin after interspersing the catalyst capsules with the fibers.

Abstract: Carbon fiber composite additives, media incorporating the carbon fiber composites, and related methods are provided herein. In some aspects, a composition includes at least one medium; and a carbon fiber composite incorporated with the at least one medium, the carbon fiber composite including one or more carbon fibers with an epoxy resin matrix applied thereto to produce a composition having improved characteristics and filtration performance.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for fabrication of enhanced carbon fiber laminates that utilize encapsulated catalyst. One embodiment is a method that includes acquiring a batch of dry fibers, and acquiring a batch of catalyst capsules that each comprise catalyst that accelerates polymerization of monomers of a resin, and a shell that encapsulates the catalyst and liquefies at a curing temperature. The method further includes interspersing the catalyst capsules among the dry fibers, and impregnating the fibers with the resin after interspersing the catalyst capsules with the fibers.

Abstract: A method for forming a composite structure includes the steps of: forming a fiber-reinforced polymer paste to a shape of a cavity of a dry fiber preform structure; heating said dry fiber preform structure having said fiber-reinforced polymer in said cavity to an infusion temperature; infusing resin into said dry fiber preform structure and around said fiber-reinforced polymer; and curing said resin-infused fiber preform structure and said fiber-reinforced polymer at a cure temperature higher than said infusion temperature.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for fabrication of enhanced carbon fiber laminates that utilize encapsulated catalyst. One embodiment is a method that includes acquiring a batch of dry fibers, and acquiring a batch of catalyst capsules that each comprise catalyst that accelerates polymerization of monomers of a resin, and a shell that encapsulates the catalyst and liquefies at a curing temperature. The method further includes interspersing the catalyst capsules among the dry fibers, and impregnating the fibers with the resin after interspersing the catalyst capsules with the fibers.

Abstract: Carbon fiber composite additives, media incorporating the carbon fiber composites, and related methods are provided herein. In some aspects, a composition includes at least one medium; and a carbon fiber composite incorporated with the at least one medium, the carbon fiber composite including one or more carbon fibers with an epoxy resin matrix applied thereto to produce a composition having improved characteristics and filtration performance.

Abstract: A system and method for manufacturing composite parts has been developed which offers the ability to produce composite parts in an infusion resin process without the use of expensive preforms or tools. In addition, the methods of manufacturing composite parts described herein offer the ability to produce composite parts having complex structures without the need for complex tooling. The method of manufacturing and systems described herein typically include printing a part skeleton using an additive manufacturing process followed by infusing the part skeleton with resin and curing the resin infused part skeleton to form the composite part.