Appeal No. 2002-0963
Application No. 08/122,344
shaping the same into the desired configuration, and
fully curing the same to form a rigid monolithic
structure. . . . Whenever filament winding is utilized
to shape the composite article, the resin impregnated
carbon fibers bearing a partially cured resin must by
necessity be provided in an appreciable length. The
efficient uniform resin impregnation, handling, and
partial curing of continuous lengths of carbon fibers
particularly in ribbon form has been an elusive goal
when employing prior art technology.
Boss discloses an improved process for producing a
continuous length of a carbon fiber ribbon which is impregnated
with a tacky B-stage thermosetting resin. Specifically
(Abstract):
The fibrous ribbon undergoing treatment is resin
impregnated with a neat liquid resin system of
relatively high viscosity containing an A-stage
thermosetting resin through the application of a force
sufficient to bring the resin into intimate association
with the individual fibers of the ribbon. The resin
impregnated ribbon is next partially cured while
continuously passing through a heating zone as
described while interposed between a pair of flexible
endless belts.
The resulting ribbon is continuously withdrawn from the heating
zone prior to a point in time when the thermosetting resin is
advanced to a hard non-tacky C-stage consistency. The resin in
intimate association with the ribbon remains in a tacky B-stage
consistency at the time of its withdrawal from the heating zone.
The ribbon may be collected or directly utilized in the formation
of carbon fiber reinforced composite structures using
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