Mechanical Interlocking Realized Through Induction Heating For Polymeric Composite Repair
First Claim
1. A method of repairing a polymeric composite workpiece, the method comprising:
- identifying a localized area of the polymeric composite workpiece having a defect;
aligning a plurality of three dimensional interface structures adjacent at least a portion of the localized area;
applying a polymeric composite patch to the localized area such that the interface structures are disposed between the polymeric composite workpiece and the polymeric composite patch;
introducing an alternating electromagnetic field to selectively induce localized heating of the interface structures; and
softening regions of the polymeric composite workpiece and the polymeric composite patch adjacent the interface structures, causing the interface structures to penetrate a distance into both the respective polymeric composite workpiece and the polymeric composite patch.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of repairing a polymeric composite workpiece. The method comprises identifying a localized area of the polymeric composite workpiece having a defect. A plurality of three dimensional interface structures are aligned adjacent at least a portion of the localized area. The method includes applying a polymeric composite patch to the localized area such that the interface structures are disposed between the polymeric composite workpiece and the polymeric composite patch. An alternating electromagnetic field may be introduced to selectively induce localized heating of the interface structures. The localized heating softens regions of the polymeric composite workpiece and the polymeric composite patch adjacent the interface structures, causing the interface structures to penetrate a distance into the respective polymeric composite workpiece and the polymeric composite patch.
17 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of repairing a polymeric composite workpiece, the method comprising:
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identifying a localized area of the polymeric composite workpiece having a defect; aligning a plurality of three dimensional interface structures adjacent at least a portion of the localized area; applying a polymeric composite patch to the localized area such that the interface structures are disposed between the polymeric composite workpiece and the polymeric composite patch; introducing an alternating electromagnetic field to selectively induce localized heating of the interface structures; and softening regions of the polymeric composite workpiece and the polymeric composite patch adjacent the interface structures, causing the interface structures to penetrate a distance into both the respective polymeric composite workpiece and the polymeric composite patch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of preparing a reinforced joint between two polymeric composite components, the method comprising:
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providing a first polymeric composite component having a first joint end and a second polymeric composite component having a second joint end; aligning the first and second joint ends and arranging a plurality of three dimensional metal interface structures between the aligned joint ends; introducing an electromagnetic field adjacent the interface structures to selectively induce localized heating of the interface structures, creating softened regions in the first and second polymeric components adjacent the interface structures; and embedding a portion of each interface structure into respective softened regions of both the first and second polymeric composite components to form a reinforced joint. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of increasing the strength of a polymeric composite joint in a vehicle body structure, the method comprising:
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aligning first and second polymeric composite panels that form the vehicle body structure; providing a substrate comprising a plurality of three dimensional conductive interface structures between the first and second polymeric composite panels; selectively heating the conductive interface structures by electromagnetic induction, creating softened regions in the first and second polymeric composite panels adjacent the conductive interface structures; and embedding a portion of each conductive interface structure into respective softened regions of both the first and second polymeric composite panels.
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Specification