Abstract: A method for cross-linking an uncured or partially-cured epoxy resin system, the epoxy resin system including at least one epoxy compound, the epoxy compound including at least one glycidyl chemical group attached to at least one aniline chemical group, the process including: providing the epoxy resin system with at least a portion of the epoxy compound in contact with a PVDF-containing polymer in a diffuse mixture or at an interface; and cross-linking at least a portion of the epoxy compound with at least a portion of the PVDF-containing polymer, and in the same process step curing the epoxy resin system, to form a cured epoxy resin system having a cross-linked interface with a PVDF-containing polymer.

Abstract: A method of creating a functional utility-surface on a thermoset composite component, including the steps of: fixing the position of a cured thermoset polymer composite component, the thermoset polymer composite component having a thermoplastic polymer surface layer attached to at least a portion of one surface thereof, the thermoset polymer composite component being fixed in position to allow access to the thermoplastic polymer surface layer; and shaping the thermoplastic polymer surface to form a functional utility-surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for welding together polymer composite components to form a composite frame, the apparatus including: a load bearing apparatus; a plurality of location elements for respectively locating at least one component of the composite frame to be assembled, each location element being connected to the load bearing apparatus; at least one of said location elements being a moveable location element, the position of said location element being moveable with respect to said load bearing apparatus; guides for the precise movement of said locating elements to position the composite components into a series of joints which form the composite frame; at lease one actuation means for the at least one moveable location element, the actuation means being attached to the load bearing apparatus and to the at least one moveable location element; at least one motion limiting apparatus applied to the at least one moveable location element, the motion limiting apparatus being either a means of control of the force applied

Abstract: A fibre-reinforcing fabric or preform, including reinforcing fibres and semicrystalline thermoplastic polymer binder, for subsequent infusion with uncured thermosetting polymer, or a class of thermosetting polymers, and curing to make a high-performance thermoset polymer composite structure, where said semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer and said thermosetting polymer or components of said thermosetting polymer have a high level of solution compatibility at the curing temperature of the thermosetting polymer and are able to partially interpenetrate before curing of the thermosetting polymer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite sandwich structure, the method comprising a preform assembly method. The method comprises providing a preform (8) comprising at least two sheets (12, 14) connected by a plurality of extensible threads (16), and affixing to the outer face of each sheet (12, 14), a face sheet (18, 22). The adhesion is by a film adhesive (20, 24) placed over the respective sheets (12, 14), and the preform (8) is subjected to pressure or heat to set the film adhesive (20, 24). The method further comprises a method of molding a composite sandwich structure, the method comprising placing a preform (8) in a mold (30), creating pressure differentials between respective chambers (40, 42) within the mold (30), feeding a resinous compound into the mold (30), and allowing the resinous compound to set and cure. The invention also provides composite sandwich structures made in accordance with the methods.