Apparatus and method of making composite material articles

1. A method of making a composite material article, said method comprising:

providing a pre-impregnated preform comprising a plurality of reinforcing fibers and a polymer matrix;

positioning the preform on a base plate;

positioning a pressure bladder on top of the preform;

positioning a bridge tool above the pressure bladder, the bridge tool comprising a top plate and at least one support member, the at least one support member coupled to the base plate and the top plate spaced above the pressure bladder;

enclosing the preform, pressure bladder, and bridge tool inside a vacuum bag;

drawing a vacuum in the vacuum bag to remove air and volatiles from the preform; and

applying pressure to the preform by inflating the pressure bladder.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising positioning a caul plate between the preform and the pressure bladder.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein enclosing the preform, pressure bladder, and bridge tool inside a vacuum bag comprises enclosing the preform, pressure bladder, and bridge tool inside the vacuum bag by sealingly attaching the vacuum bag to the base plate.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein applying pressure to the preform comprises applying a pressure of greater than about 0 psi to about 200 psi to the preform.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein applying pressure to the preform comprises applying a pressure of between about 15 psi to about 200 psi to the preform.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the top plate of the bridge tool comprises a plurality of air holes extending therethrough.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the vacuum bag comprises a flexible vacuum bladder, the base plate, preform, and bridge tool positioned inside the vacuum bladder.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the preform comprises a plurality of fibers selected from the group consisting of glass fibers, graphite fibers, carbon fibers, ceramic fibers aramid fibers, kenaf fibers, jute fibers, flax fibers, hemp fibers, cellulosic fibers, sisal fibers, coir fibers, and mixtures thereof.

9. An apparatus for processing a pre-impregnated preform, the preform comprising a plurality of fibers and a polymer matrix, said apparatus comprising:

a base plate having a top surface and a bottom surface;

a bridge tool coupled to said base plate, said bridge tool comprising a top plate and at least one support member extending from said top plate, said at least one support member coupled to said top surface of said base plate;

a pressure bladder positioned below said top plate of said bridge tool, said pressure bladder sized to be positioned on the preform positioned on said top surface of said base plate; and

a vacuum bag, said pressure bladder and said bridge tool positioned inside said vacuum bag.

10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 9 further comprising a caul plate positioned below said pressure bladder, said caul plate sized to be positioned between the pressure bladder and the preform positioned on said top surface of said base plate.

11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said vacuum bag is sealingly attached to said base plate forming a chamber, said pressure bladder and said bridge tool positioned inside said chamber.

12. An apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said top plate of said bridge tool comprises a plurality of air holes extending therethrough.

13. An apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said vacuum bag comprises flexible vacuum bladder, said base plate, and said bridge tool positioned inside said vacuum bladder.

14. A method of making a composite material article, said method comprising:

providing a pre-impregnated preform comprising a plurality of reinforcing fibers impregnated with a polymer matrix;

positioning the preform inside a processing apparatus, the processing apparatus comprising:

a base plate having a top surface and a bottom surface;

a bridge tool coupled to the base plate, the bridge tool comprising a top plate and at least one support member extending from the top plate, the at least one support member coupled to the top surface of the base plate;

a pressure bladder positioned below the top plate of the bridge tool; and

a vacuum bag, the bridge tool and the pressure bladder positioned inside the vacuum bag;

drawing a vacuum in the vacuum bag to remove air and volatiles from the preform; and

applying pressure to the preform by inflating the pressure bladder.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14 further comprising positioning a caul plate between the preform and the pressure bladder.

16. A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein the vacuum bag is sealingly attached to the base plate forming a chamber, the bridge tool and the pressure bladder positioned inside the vacuum bag.

17. A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein applying pressure to the preform comprises applying a pressure of greater than about 0 psi to about 200 psi to the preform.

18. A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein applying pressure to the preform comprises applying a pressure of between about 15 psi to about 200 psi to the preform.

19. A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein the top plate of the bridge tool comprises a plurality of air holes extending therethrough.

20. A method in accordance with claim 19 wherein the vacuum bag comprises an outer vacuum bladder, the base plate, preform, and bridge tool positioned inside the vacuum bladder.