Sandwich component and method for the production thereof

1. A method for the production of a sandwich component comprising a honeycomb core ( 1 ) with a plurality of webs ( 1 ′) and at least two cover layers ( 2 , 3 ) the honeycomb core ( 1 ) consisting of paper, cardboard or other cellulose-based material wherein the cover layers ( 2 , 3 ) are formed from a fiber-reinforced semi-finished material with a thermoplastic matrix, wherein the webs ( 1 ′) of the honeycomb core ( 1 ) are at least partially accommodated in the thermoplastic matrix of the cover layer ( 2 , 3 ) at connecting points (A) to the cover layer ( 2 , 3 ), thus providing a composite of the sandwich component, and wherein the sandwich component has an edge seal created by joining the cover layers ( 2 , 3 ) by local melting of the thermoplastic matrix of the cover layers ( 2 , 3 ), the sandwich component having a flat shape or a shape curved about a radius (R), the method comprising the steps of:

providing the honeycomb core ( 1 ) and at least two fiber-reinforced semi-finished materials with a thermoplastic matrix,

placing the semi-finished materials above and/or below the honeycomb core,

positioning the assembly in a pressing tool with an upper die ( 4 ′) and a lower die ( 4 ) which provide the preset flat or curved shape of the sandwich component,

applying pressure and bonding the assembly consisting of the semi-finished materials and the honeycomb core ( 1 ), the thermoplastic matrix being subjected to a temperature between a glass transition temperature and a melting point of the plastic material,

wherein the bond is provided by at least partially melting the thermoplastic matrix and a partial accommodation of the webs ( 1 ′) of the honeycomb core ( 1 ) in the thermoplastic matrix at connecting points (A) of the webs ( 1 ′) to the cover layers ( 2 , 3 ) represented by the fiber-reinforced semi-finished material with the thermoplastic matrix, wherein the semi-finished materials provided for forming the cover layers have dimensions which overlap a surface of the honeycomb core and its edge surfaces, and in that under the application of pressure the projecting edges of the semi-finished materials are bent around the edge of the honeycomb core, and in that the bonding of the cover layers and a sealing of the honeycomb core are provided by a local melting of the thermoplastic matrix to bond the cover layers ( 2 , 3 ) to each other and to the edge of the honeycomb core.

2. The method for the production of a sandwich component comprising a honeycomb core ( 1 ) with a plurality of webs ( 1 ′) and at least two cover layers ( 2 , 3 ), the honeycomb core ( 1 ) consisting paper, cardboard or other cellulose-based material, wherein the cover layers ( 2 , 3 ) are formed from a fiber-reinforced semi-finished material with a thermoplastic matrix, wherein the webs ( 1 ′) of the honeycomb core ( 1 ) are at least partially accommodated in the thermoplastic matrix of the cover layer ( 2 , 3 ) at connecting points (A) to the cover layer ( 2 , 3 ), thus providing a composite of the sandwich component, and wherein the sandwich component has an edge seal created by joining the cover layers ( 2 , 3 ) by local melting of the thermoplastic matrix of the cover layers ( 2 , 3 ), the sandwich component having a shape curved about a radius (r), the method comprising the steps of:

wetting the honeycomb core ( 1 ) with water ( 5 ) or with a starch-dissolving solution by spraying or by means of vapour,

placing the wetted honeycomb core ( 1 ) in a pressing tool with an upper die ( 4 ′) and a lower die ( 4 ) which provide the preset curved shape of the sandwich component,

forming the wetted honeycomb core ( 1 ) in the pressing tool by applying a pressure at a temperature in a range of 40 to 200 degrees C.,

providing at least two fiber-reinforced semi-finished materials with a thermoplastic matrix and placing the semi-finished materials above and/or below the honeycomb core ( 1 ),

positioning of the assembly in the pressing tool,

applying pressure and bonding the assembly consisting of the semi-finished materials and the honeycomb core ( 1 ), the thermoplastic matrix being subjected to a temperature between a glass transition temperature and a melting point of the plastic material,

wherein the bond is provided by at least partially melting the thermoplastic matrix and a partial accommodation of the webs ( 1 ′) of the honeycomb core ( 1 ) in the thermoplastic matrix at connecting points (A) of the webs ( 1 ′) to the cover layer ( 2 , 3 ) represented by the fiber-reinforced semi-finished material with the thermoplastic matrix, wherein the semi-finished materials provided for forming the cover layers have dimensions which overlap a surface of the honeycomb core and its edge surfaces, and in that under the application of pressure the projecting edges of the semi-finished materials are bent around the edge of the honeycomb core, and in that the bonding of the cover layers and a sealing of the honeycomb core are provided by a local melting of the thermoplastic matrix to bond the cover layers ( 2 , 3 ) to each other and to the edge of the honeycomb core.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic matrix ( 2 , 3 ) is subjected to temperature

by a heating device included in the pressing tool, or

by a separate heating device before the assembly is placed in the pressing tool.

4. The method according to claim 1 , comprising the steps of during the bonding of the thermoplastic matrix ( 2 , 3 ) to the webs ( 1 ′),

compression of the webs ( 1 ′) by a length predetermined by a tool-path control of the pressing tool.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cellulose-based material is paper.

6. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the cellulose-based material is paper.

7. A method for making a load-bearing component or an interior trim element for a motor vehicle selected from a floor plate, a rear seat backrest, a roof lining, a seat component, a central door panel and a door leaf, wherein the component is a sandwich component comprising a honeycomb core ( 1 ) with a plurality of webs ( 1 ′) and at least two cover layers ( 2 , 3 ), the honeycomb core ( 1 ) consisting of paper, cardboard or other cellulose-based material, wherein the cover layers ( 2 , 3 ) are formed from a fiber-reinforced semi-finished material with a thermoplastic matrix, wherein the webs ( 1 ′) of the honeycomb core ( 1 ) are at least partially accommodated in the thermoplastic matrix of the cover layer ( 2 , 3 ) at connecting points (A) to the cover layer ( 2 , 3 ), thus providing a composite of the sandwich component, and wherein the sandwich component has an edge seal created by joining the cover layers ( 2 , 3 ) by local melting of the thermoplastic matrix of the cover layers ( 2 , 3 ), the sandwich component having a flat shape or a shape curved about a radius (R), the method comprising the steps of:

providing the honeycomb core ( 1 ) having the edge ( 10 ) dimensions of the load-bearing component or an interior trim element to be produced, and at least first and second fiber-reinforced semi-finished materials with a thermoplastic matrix,

placing the semi-finished materials of the cover layers ( 2 , 3 ) above and below the honeycomb core, wherein the semi-finished materials overlap around the edge ( 10 ) of the honeycomb core ( 1 ),

positioning the assembly in a pressing tool with an upper die ( 4 ′) and a lower die ( 4 ) which provide the preset flat or curved shape of the sandwich component, and with an upper folding device ( 6 ′) associated with the upper die ( 4 ′) and a lower folding device ( 6 ) associated with the lower die ( 4 ) for pressing and fusing the semi-finished materials of the cover layers ( 2 , 3 ) around the edge of the sandwich component, wherein the stroke of the pressing tool is limited by lower folding device ( 6 ) as a stop for upper folding device ( 6 ′),

applying pressure via the die and bonding the assembly consisting of the semi-finished materials and the honeycomb core ( 1 ), wherein the semi-finished materials are joined around the periphery of the core ( 1 ) and to the side of the core by the pressure of the upper and lower folding devices ( 6 ′, 6 ), the thermoplastic matrix being subjected to a temperature between a glass transition temperature and a melting point of the plastic material, wherein the bond is provided by at least partially melting the thermoplastic matrix and a partial accommodation of the webs ( 1 ′) of the honeycomb core ( 1 ) in the thermoplastic matrix at connecting points (A) of the webs ( 1 ′) to the cover layers ( 2 , 3 ) represented by the fiber-reinforced semi-finished material with the thermoplastic matrix, wherein the semi-finished materials provided for forming the cover layers have dimensions which overlap a surface of the honeycomb core and its edge surfaces, and in that under the application of pressure the projecting edges of the semi-finished materials are bent around the edge of the honeycomb core, and in that the bonding of the cover layers and a sealing of the honeycomb core are provided by a local melting of the thermoplastic matrix, and

installing the sandwich component as a load-bearing component or an interior trim element of a motor vehicle.