Pepin Associates, Inc. developed a technology by which continuous, unidirectional prepreg tape is cut into narrow, discrete segments while maintaining alignment and adherence to its contact paper backing. The result is an aligned, discontinuous unidirectional tape. The discontinuous nature of the tape allows it to stretch in its reinforcement direction, permitting the forming of complex shaped layups from simple initial shapes such as flat plates and tubes. The goal of the tape is to increase efficiency of fabricating complex composite shapes by eliminating the need to cut and dart during layup and for the technician to create a preform. |
DiscoTape™ Complex Shaped Part Fabrication |
DiscoTape™ is comprised of finger-jointed segments. The segment patterns are governed by the required mechanical properties of the part and the contours to be formed, |