Safe, Rapid Hot Debulking System for Composite Airframes

In support of the advancement of materials and manufacturing processes for composite airframe structures, Cornerstone Research Group, Inc. (CRG) proposes the use of an inherently-safe, rapid hot debulking system for agile, out-of-oven manufacturing of composite primary structures. The proposed project would leverage commercially available and licensed conduction heating technology to alleviate the need for costly oven and/or autoclave tooling, thermal surveys, and lengthy convection heating cycles. This will also move the prepreg debulking processes out of the oven and/or autoclave to become cost effective, reliable, and expedite processing. The rapid hot debulking system utilizes inherently-safe, self-regulating conduction heating to significantly reduce the risk of advancing prepreg resin cure state regardless of laminate or tooling construction. The rapid hot debulking system could also be leveraged to streamline sustainment of military or commercial aircraft. CRG has the expertise in leveraged technologies, aircraft composite manufacturing, and composite performance validation testing to be successful in this program. The proposed technology has proven successful when performing numerous demonstrations/field evaluations at several DoD Depots, OEM manufacturing facilities, and commercial organizations throughout the world.