Abstract: A sorbent-based oil skimmer is configured to collect oil from an oil layer and passively deposit the oil in an encasing, where the oil can be continuously or periodically removed. The oil skimmer includes an encasing and a sponge that is partially enclosed within the encasing. The sponge has a top sheet in contact with the oil layer and a shell connected to the top sheet, where the shell extends into the encasing. Oil collected by the top sheet is conveyed through the shell, where it is deposited into the encasing under the force of gravity. In some applications, the sponge is manufactured from a silicone-based polymer that has been impregnated with carbonaceous material. The skimmer may optionally include counterweights, ballast tanks, buoyancy adjustment systems and propulsion modules.

Abstract: A liquid composite molding method includes the steps of providing a part mold that has an inlet gate and an exit gate, placing a fabric preform over the part mold, placing a membrane over the fabric preform and securing a pressure cap to the part mold. The pressure cap and part mold together form a pressure chamber with a headspace between the membrane and the pressure cap. The method further includes the step of filling the fabric preform with liquid resin under the membrane while applying pressure within the headspace over the membrane. The method may be practiced with an apparatus that has a pressure chamber, a fabric preform inside the pressure chamber, a membrane over the fabric preform, a resin injection assembly, and a resin extraction assembly. The pressure chamber includes a part mold and a pressure cap. A headspace is formed above the membrane within the pressure chamber.

Abstract: A sorbent-based oil skimmer is configured to collect oil from an oil layer and passively deposit the oil in an encasing, where the oil can be continuously or periodically removed. The oil skimmer includes an encasing and a sponge that is partially enclosed within the encasing. The sponge has a top sheet in contact with the oil layer and a shell connected to the top sheet, where the shell extends into the encasing. Oil collected by the top sheet is conveyed through the shell, where it is deposited into the encasing under the force of gravity. In some applications, the sponge is manufactured from a silicone-based polymer that has been impregnated with carbonaceous material. The skimmer may optionally include counterweights, ballast tanks, buoyancy adjustment systems and propulsion modules.

Abstract: A liquid composite molding method includes the steps of providing a part mold that has an inlet gate and an exit gate, placing a fabric preform over the part mold, placing a membrane over the fabric preform and securing a pressure cap to the part mold. The pressure cap and part mold together form a pressure chamber with a headspace between the membrane and the pressure cap. The method further includes the step of filling the fabric preform with liquid resin under the membrane while applying pressure within the headspace over the membrane. The method may be practiced with an apparatus that has a pressure chamber, a fabric preform inside the pressure chamber, a membrane over the fabric preform, a resin injection assembly, and a resin extraction assembly. The pressure chamber includes a part mold and a pressure cap. A headspace is formed above the membrane within the pressure chamber.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for uniformly depositing nanomaterials having particles smaller than 1 ?m (i.e., nanoparticles) onto a surface of a base material (substrate or surface). The process is used to deposit any solid (nanoparticle) of any shape such as nanofibers, nanotubes, nanoclays (e.g., platelet shaped), nano-spheres, or irregularly shaped granules. The base material upon which the nano-particles are deposited can be made of any material. The method substantially prevents the deposition on the base material of larger particles (contaminants or clusters of the nanoparticles) which are often mixed with the nanomaterials. The amount of deposition and the range of particle sizes to be deposited can also be controlled by this method.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for uniformly depositing nanomaterials having particles smaller than 1 ?m (i.e., nanoparticles) onto a surface of a base material (substrate or surface). The process is used to deposit any solid (nanoparticle) of any shape such as nanofibers, nanotubes, nanoclays (e.g., platelet shaped), nano-spheres, or irregularly shaped granules. The base material upon which the nano-particles are deposited can be made of any material. The method substantially prevents the deposition on the base material of larger particles (contaminants or clusters of the nanoparticles) which are often mixed with the nanomaterials. The amount of deposition and the range of particle sizes to be deposited can also be controlled by this method.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for controlling the curing process of a composite material part in a curing vessel such as an autoclave. The method relies on the comparison of actual part parameter values to predicted part parameter values wherein the predicted values are obtained from computer simulations of the cure cycles using convective heat transfer, thermo-chemical, cure kinetics, resin flow and viscosity analytic models. The invention provides a methodology for the continuous selection and updating during the cure process of new optimal cure cycles from sets of cure cycles in response to actual material behavior during the curing process. An extended heat transfer model coupled to the thermo-chemical model accounts for convective heat transfer within curing vessel during the curing process.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method for controlling the curing process of a composite material part in a curing vessel such as an autoclave. The method relies on the comparison of actual part parameter values to predicted part parameter values wherein the predicted values are obtained from computer simulations of the cure cycles using thermo-chemical, cure kinetics, resin flow and viscosity analytic models. The invention provides a methodology for the continuous selection and updating during the cure process of new optimal cure cycles from sets of cure cycles in response to actual material behavior during the curing process.