Method for the fabrication of a former for manufacture of composite articles and manufacture and repair of composite articles using said former

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for the fabrication of a former for manufacture of composite articles. The method is characterized by the following steps: forming a wetted water-soluble fiber composite on a master tool such that the fiber composite material lies against a surface area of the master tool, allowing the water-soluble fiber composite to dry on the master tool and removing the dry water-soluble fiber composite from the master tool, wherein the dry fiber composite forms the walls of the thus fabricated former. The invention also relates to the manufacture and repair of articles using said former

1 . A method for the manufacture of a fiber composite article, comprising the steps of: 
 Producing a lay-up of an uncured thermosettable fiber composite material by applying it on at least one surface of a former having walls of a water-soluble fiber composite material;    Applying a substantially unitary pressure on outer surfaces of the lay-up by enclosing the outer surfaces of the lay-up in a bag part and applying a vacuum between the lay-up and the bag part;    Simultaneously applying the same unitary pressure on wall surfaces of the former in another bag part and applying the same vacuum between said wall surfaces and said further bag;    Curing the lay-up in a curing process;    Removing the bag parts; and    Removing the former from the cured composite article by dissolving the former in water.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of producing the lay-up comprises pre-arranging the former on a composite plate constituting part of the article.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the removal of the dissolved former is carried out through an opening in the cured composite article.  
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble fiber composite material includes a woven textile fabric.