Backed ply material and apparatus for forming same

Abstract

A layered material may include a ply material and a backing film disposed upon the ply material. The backing film may comprise a polyester film.

1 . A layered material, comprising:
 a ply material; and   a backing film disposed upon the ply material, the backing film comprising a polyester film.   
     
     
         2 . The layered material of  claim 1 , wherein the backing film further comprises:
 a release coating to facilitate removal of the backing film from the ply material.   
     
     
         3 . The layered material of  claim 2 , wherein the release coating comprises silicone. 
     
     
         4 . The layered material of  claim 1 , wherein the backing film is about 0.001 to about 0.004 inches thick. 
     
     
         5 . The layered material of  claim 4 , wherein the backing film is about 0.001 to about 0.002 inches thick. 
     
     
         6 . The layered material of  claim 1 , wherein the backing film is substantially transparent. 
     
     
         7 . The layered material of  claim 1 , wherein the backing film comprises polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
         8 . The layered material of  claim 1 , wherein the backing film is heat stabilized. 
     
     
         9 . The layered material of  claim 1 , wherein the ply material comprises graphite fibers. 
     
     
         10 . The layered material of  claim 1 , wherein the ply material comprises a metal foil. 
     
     
         11 . The layered material of  claim 10 , wherein the metal foil is epoxy resin coated metal foil. 
     
     
         12 . The layered material of  claim 10 , wherein the metal foil comprises a titanium foil. 
     
     
         13 . The layered material of  claim 1 , wherein the ply material comprises titanium graphite composite. 
     
     
         14 . The layered material of  claim 1 , wherein the backing film is recyclable. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for generating a backed ply material, the apparatus comprising:
 means for disposing a polyester film upon a ply material; and   means for generating a roll of the backed ply material by wrapping the backed ply material about a spool.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the polyester film is substantially transparent. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for generating a composite layup, comprising:
 a means for tacking a ply material having a polyester backing film to a tool;   a means for disposing the ply material upon the tool along a path; and   means for removing the polyester backing film.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 means for cutting the ply material in response to disposing the ply material at an end of the path.   
     
     
         19 . apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the polyester backing film is a transparent polyester backing film, the apparatus further comprising:
 means for generating an interface between two courses of the ply material by disposing the ply material upon the tool adjacent to a previously applied course of the ply material; and   means for viewing the interface through the transparent polyester backing film to verify that the interface is within a predetermined tolerance.