Fabrication of Advanced Composites

Abstract

The basic operations involved in fabricating composite parts are 1) lay-up of the raw materials-reinforcements and matrices, 2) application of heat and pressure, and cure and consolidation into the final desired form, 3) assembly, and 4) joining. To achieve these operations, however, a number of possible avenues are open.

This chapter was accumulated from information ac­quired during the generation of the DD/ NASA-sponsored “Structural Composite Fabrication Guide.” Acknowledg­ment is hereby made to virtually every aerospace company in the U.S. involved in the development and fabrication of composite hardware which contributed information to the “FAB Guide” effort.