PREPREG CURING PROCESS FOR PREPARING COMPOSITES HAVING SUPERIOR SURFACE FINISH AND HIGH FIBER CONSOLIDATION

A process for curing a prepreg includes the steps of (A) Providing a prepreg comprising a thermosetting resin composition and fiber; (B) Placing the prepreg under reduced pressure relative to atmospheric pressure; (C) Exposing the prepreg under reduced pressure to a first elevated temperature for a time sufficient to: remove about 1% to about 3% by weight volatile materials in the prepreg, and increase viscosity of the prepreg to a range of about 1 to about 40,000 Poise; (D) Exposing the prepreg under reduced pressure to a first subsequent elevated temperature and greater than the first elevated temperature for a time sufficient to cure the prepreg; and (E) Exposing the cured prepreg to a second subsequent elevated temperature that is less than any one or more of the first elevated temperature or the first subsequent or the second subsequent elevated temperatures with or without reduced pressure. L'invention porte sur un procédé de durcissement de préimprégné pour la préparation de composites ayant une finition de surface supérieure et une haute consolidation des fibres.