Affordable Production of Commposite Parts Using Low Temperature Curing Prepregs

摘要

An overivew of the achievements of low temperature curing prepregs in the manufacture of aerospace structural parts is given. The basic characteristics of conventional hot curing prepregs are reviewed and compared with those of low temperature curing prepreg systems. The potential cost savings achievable using low temperature curing prepregs, arising principally from dramatic reductions in tooling cost for low volume production, are examined and quantified. The history of the development and application of these materials is reviewed, including such applications as the McDonnell Douglas/NASA X36 and the Lockheed Martin/Boeing ARPA Tier III-Darkstar. Future developments of low temperature curing prepreg systems are discussed, including the potential application to series production, where significant cost savings are expected to arise from elimination of part manufacturing distortion and associated assembly costs.