| abstract |
A method for fabricating a perforated high temperature fiber reinforced polymer composite material which includes partially curing a polymer composite material to a viscoelastic state without inducing complete cure. The polymer composite material is formable when further heated, but does not experience excessive resin flow during final curing. According to the methods of the present invention, the polymer composite material may be perforated in the partially cured state, or prior to the partially cured state. A rigid pin mat apparatus of the present invention may advantageously be utilized to perforate the composite material. After the partial curing, the polymer composite material may be contoured utilizing a flexible mat pin apparatus of the present invention, or may be contoured utilizing forming tools generally known to the art. The method may advantageously be utilized with fiber-reinforced polymer composite starting materials, such as graphite/bismaleimide preimpregnated fabric, to produce perforated and contoured high temperature fiber reinforced polymer composite materials for sound suppression applications. |