IP Library Granted Patent US 11,524,427
Granted Patent B2
US 11,524,427 · App. 17/126,457 · Granted Dec 13, 2022

Water soluble barrier coatings for washout tooling for a composite layup

Inventors: Tomonori Saito (Oak Ridge, TN); Lu Han (Oak Ridge, TN); Amelia M. Elliott (Oak Ridge, TN); Dustin B. Gilmer (Oak Ridge, TN)
Assignees: UT-BATTELLE, LLC; University of Tennessee Research Foundation
B29C33/62B29C33/3842B29C70/30B29C70/54C09D5/002C09D5/008C09D7/61C09D7/70C09D125/18C09D133/02C09D141/00C09D179/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,524,427
App. No.
17/126,457
Granted
Dec 13, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A washout tooling for a composite layup is provided. The washout tooling comprises a casting mold having an exterior surface. The casting mold comprises a particulate material and a water-soluble binder. The casting mold is adapted to break down in the presence of an aqueous solution. The washout tooling further comprises a water-soluble coating layer overlying the exterior surface. The water-soluble coating layer is adapted to break down in the presence of an aqueous solution. The washout tooling further comprises a curable composite layer overlying the water-soluble coating layer. The water-soluble coating layer minimizes contact between the particulate material and the curable composite layer.

Claims (72)

1. A washout tooling for a composite layup, comprising:

a mold having an exterior surface, the mold comprising a particulate material and a water-soluble binder, the mold adapted to break down in the presence of an aqueous solution;

a water-soluble coating layer overlying the exterior surface of the mold, the water-soluble coating layer being adapted to break down in the presence of an aqueous solution; and

a curable composite layer overlying the water-soluble coating layer opposite of the mold, the curable composite layer including a plurality of fibers and a curable resin;

wherein the water-soluble coating layer minimizes contact between the particulate material and the curable resin of the curable composite layer,

wherein the water-soluble coating layer comprises a water-soluble coating material having a glass transition temperature of from about 50° C. to about 500° C. according to ASTM D7028-07(2015), and

wherein the water-soluble coating material comprises a neutralizing component, the neutralizing component comprising sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), or combinations thereof.

2. The washout tooling of claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble coating layer has a water solubility of from about 10 g to about 70 g in 100 g water at 23° C. according to OECD 105.

3. The washout tooling of claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble coating material comprises a water-soluble polymer, the water-soluble polymer comprising poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(acrylic acid), poly(acrylic acid, sodium salt), poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate), poly(vinylsulfonic acid, sodium salt), or combinations thereof.

4. The washout tooling of claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble coating material comprises a solvent, the solvent comprising methanol, 1-propanol, ethanol, isopropanol, water, or combinations thereof.

5. A washout tooling for a composite layup, comprising:

a mold having an exterior surface, the mold comprising a particulate material and a water-soluble binder, the mold adapted to break down in the presence of an aqueous solution;

a water-soluble coating layer overlying the exterior surface of the mold, the water-soluble coating layer being adapted to break down in the presence of an aqueous solution; and

a curable composite layer overlying the water-soluble coating layer opposite of the mold, the curable composite layer including a plurality of fibers and a curable resin;

wherein the water-soluble coating layer minimizes contact between the particulate material and the curable resin of the curable composite layer,

wherein the water-soluble coating layer comprises a water-soluble coating material having a glass transition temperature of from about 50° C. to about 500° C. according to ASTM D7028-07(2015), and

wherein the water-soluble coating material comprises a filler, the filler comprising a nanofiller, salts, or combinations thereof.

6. The washout tooling of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous solution includes an alcohol, ketones, acetates, cyclic ethers, or combinations thereof.

7. The washout tooling of claim 1 , wherein the particulate material comprises a sand, a gypsum, a metal, or a ceramic powder.

8. The washout tooling of claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble binder comprises a poly(ethyleneimine), poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(acrylic acid), poly(vinylsulfonic acid, sodium salt), copolymers thereof, or combinations thereof.

9. The washout tooling of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fibers comprise carbon fibers.

10. The washout tooling of claim 1 , wherein break down of the mold is in the presence of the aqueous solution at a temperature of from about 23° C. to about 100° C. and at a pressure of at least 40 psi.

11. The washout tooling of claim 1 , wherein break down of the water-soluble coating layer is in the presence of the aqueous solution at a temperature of from about 23° C. to about 100° C. and at a pressure of at least 40 psi.

12. A method for forming a composite layup, the method comprising:

combining a particulate material and a water-soluble binder to form a mold having an exterior surface;

applying a water-soluble coating material to the exterior surface of the mold to form a water-soluble coating layer;

applying a curable composite material to the water-soluble coating layer opposite of the mold to form a curable composite layer, the curable composite layer including a plurality of fibers and a curable resin;

curing the curable resin to form a hardened composite layup; and

exposing the mold and the water-soluble coating layer to an aqueous solution to wash the hardened composite layup free of the mold and the water-soluble coating;

wherein the water-soluble coating layer minimizes contact between the particulate material and the curable resin of the curable composite layer

wherein applying the water-soluble coating material comprises submerging the mold in the aqueous solution, and

wherein the water-soluble coating material comprises poly(acrylic acid).

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein submerging the casting mold in the water-soluble coating material comprises:

submerging the mold in the water-soluble coating material;

removing the mold from the water-soluble coating material; and

submerging the mold in the water-soluble coating material.

14. A method for forming a composite layup, the method comprising:

combining a particulate material and a water-soluble binder to form a mold having an exterior surface;

applying a water-soluble coating material to the exterior surface of the mold to form a water-soluble coating layer;

applying a curable composite material to the water-soluble coating layer opposite of the mold to form a curable composite layer, the curable composite layer including a plurality of fibers and a curable resin;

curing the curable resin to form a hardened composite layup; and

exposing the mold and the water-soluble coating layer to an aqueous solution to wash the hardened composite layup free of the mold and the water-soluble coating;

wherein the water-soluble coating layer minimizes contact between the particulate material and the curable resin of the curable composite layer,

wherein applying the water-soluble coating material comprises spraying the mold with the water-soluble coating material, and

wherein the water-soluble coating material comprises poly(vinylsulfonic acid, sodium salt).

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein combining the particulate material and the water-soluble binder comprises jetting the water-soluble binder on the particulate material to form the mold.

16. A washout tooling for a composite layup, comprising:

a casting mold having an exterior surface, the casting mold comprising a particulate material and a water-soluble binder, the casting mold adapted to break down in the presence of an aqueous solution;

a water-soluble coating layer overlying the exterior surface, the water-soluble coating layer adapted to break down in the presence of an aqueous solution; and

a curable composite layer overlying the water-soluble coating layer;

wherein the water-soluble coating layer minimizes contact between the particulate material and the curable composite layer, and

wherein the water-soluble coating layer comprises a neutralizing component, the neutralizing component comprising sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), or combinations thereof.

17. A washout tooling for a composite layup, comprising:

a casting mold having an exterior surface, the casting mold comprising a particulate material and a water-soluble binder, the casting mold adapted to break down in the presence of an aqueous solution;

a water-soluble coating layer overlying the exterior surface, the water-soluble coating layer adapted to break down in the presence of an aqueous solution; and

a curable composite layer overlying the water-soluble coating layer;

wherein the water-soluble coating layer minimizes contact between the particulate material and the curable composite layer, and

wherein the water-soluble coating layer comprises a filler, the filler comprising a nanofiller, salts, or combinations thereof.

18. A method for forming a composite layup, the method comprising:

combining a particulate material and a water-soluble binder to form a casting mold having an exterior surface;

applying a water-soluble coating material to overly the exterior surface to form a water-soluble coating layer;

applying a curable composite material to the water-soluble coating layer to form a curable composite layer; and

exposing the casting mold and the water-soluble coating layer to an aqueous solution to form the composite layup;

wherein the water-soluble coating layer minimizes contact between the particulate material and the curable composite layer, and

wherein the water-soluble coating material comprises poly(acrylic acid).

19. A method for forming a composite layup, the method comprising:

combining a particulate material and a water-soluble binder to form a casting mold having an exterior surface;

applying a water-soluble coating material to overlay the exterior surface to form a water-soluble coating layer;

applying a curable composite material to the water-soluble coating layer to form a curable composite layer; and

exposing the casting mold and the water-soluble coating layer to an aqueous solution to form the composite layup;

wherein the water-soluble coating layer minimizes contact between the particulate material and the curable composite layer, and

wherein the water-soluble coating material comprises poly(vinylsulfonic acid, sodium salt).

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2022
From: GILMER, DUSTIN B.
To: UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
Reel/Frame 061672/0474 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 16, 2022
From: SAITO, TOMONORI; HAN, LU; ELLIOTT, AMELIA M.
To: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
Reel/Frame 061121/0578 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Dec 13, 2021
From: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
To: U. S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 058369/0328 →
Continuity (1)
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