Logically, rheology and are coupled is adapted to that of the resin matrix formulation and their use in the production of preimpregnated fibres and composite materials

摘要

Chemorheologically viscosity tailored matrix resin formulation for use in forming prepregs and filament wound composite articles and having a specified viscosity profile comprising a curable matrix resin and an effective amount of a reactive resin curing agent reactive at room temperature and a latent resin curing agent substantially non-reactive at room temperature but activated upon heating or radiation such that the matrix resin formulation is adapted upon formulation to have a viscosity sufficiently low enough to enable the matrix resin to impregnate a filament or fiber at room temperature without the necessity for the application of heat or solvent and which, upon standing at room temperature after impregnation into the fiber or filament to form a prepreg composition, rises in viscosity to a viscosity level sufficiently high to prevent substantially any bleed of the matrix resin from winding tension upon spooling of the prepreg yet of sufficiently low enough viscosity to allow the prepreg to tack and drape in order to nestle and set during winding of a filament wound composite article from said prepreg after room temperature storage of the spooled prepreg material, and which matrix resin in the prepreg experiences a reduction in viscosity upon heating the prepreg composition, to a viscosity minimum sufficient low to allow the matrix resin in the heated prepreg to flow and substantially eliminate formation of voids in the winding of a composite article from said prepreg yet not so low as to permit excessive bleeding of the matrix resin from the prepreg and with the continued application of heat to the filament wound composite article to permit the matrix resin in the filament wound composite article to cure to a hardened or gelled state.