MY131360A - Process for preparing composites based on oriented mesogenic thermoset resins - Google Patents

Abstract

CONTINUOUS FIBER REINFORCED ORIENTED MESOGEN-CONTAINING RESIN MATRIX COMPOSITES ARE PREPARED BY (A) SATURATING A CONTINUOUS FIBER SUBSTRATE MATERIAL WITH A CURABLE COMPOSITION (1) AT LEAST MESOGEN-CONTAINING RESIN WHICH CONTAINS AN AVERAGE OF MORE THAN ONE VICINAL EPOXIDE GROUP, THIIRANE GROUP, CYANATE GROUP OR VINYL ESTER GROUP PER MOLECULE; AND OPTIONALLY , (2) A CURING AMOUNT OF AT LEAST ONE CURING AGENT AND/OR CURING CATALYST THEREFOR; (B) ARRANGING ONE OR MORE SATURATED CONTINUOUS FIBER SUBSTRATE MATERIAL(S) FORMED IN STEP (A) INTO A DESIRED CONFIGURATION ; (C) SUBJECTING THE ARRANGED SATURATED CONTINUOUS FIBER SUBSTRATE MATERIAL(S) FROM STEP (B) TO A TEMPERATURE WHICH CAUSES THE MESOGEN-CONTAINING RESIN TO CONVERT TO A LIQUID CRYSTALLINE STATE; (D) SUBJECTING THE HEATED ARRANGED SATURATED CONTINUOUS FIBER SUBSTRATE MATERIAL(S) FROM STEP (C) TO A PRESSURE SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE FLOW INDUCED SHEAR IN THE INTERSTICES OF SAID CONTINUOUS FIBER SUBSTRATE; (E) SUBJECTING THE CONTINUOUS FIBER SUBSTRATE MATERIAL OF STEP (D) TO CURING CONDITIONS EITHER SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE APLICATION OF PRESSURE IN STEP (D) AND/OR SUBSEQUENT TO SAID APPLICATION OF PRESSURE; AND (F) PERMITTING THE CURED CONTINUOUS FIBER REINFORCED COMPOSITE OF STEP (E) TO COOL TO ROOM TEMPERATURE; THEREBY FORMING A CURED CONTINUOUS FIBER REINFORCED COMPOSITE CONTAINING AN ORIENTED MESOGEN-CONTAINING RESIN MATRIX.THESE COMPOSITES HAVE IMPROVED PROPERTIES AS COMPARED TO COMPOSITES WHICH ARE NOT ORIENTED.