Metal-composite laminates and a method for fabricating same

Abstract

This invention concerns a method for reducing the weight of metal-composite laminates that consist of two or more metal foil layers ( 1 ) and the polymeric binder layers ( 2 ) that hold these metal foil layers together and contain fiber reinforcement ( 3 ) designed in view of the intended area of application for the product. The desired weight reduction is achieved according to the invention in that at least parts of the fiber reinforcement ( 3 ) are made from hollow fibers, i.e. consist of tubular fibers, each of which contains at least one longitudinal internal hollow channel. The invention also includes products fabricated in accordance with said method.

1 . A method for reducing the weight of metal-composite laminates that consist of two or more metal foil layers ( 1 ) and the polymeric binder layers ( 2 ) that hold the metal foil layers together and contain fiber reinforcement ( 3 ) designed in view of the intended area of application for the product, characterized in that a fiber material that consists at least in part of hollow fibers, i.e. consists of tubular fibers, each of which contains at least one longitudinal internal hollow channel, is chosen for making the fiber reinforcements ( 3 ).  
     
     
         2 . A metal-composite laminate of the type that contains at least two metal layers ( 1 ) joined by means of fiber-reinforced polymeric binder layers ( 2 ), characterized in that the binder-reinforcing fiber material ( 3 ) consists at least in part of a hollow fiber material, which means that each fiber has a tubular shape and exhibits at least one throughpassing channel or opening extending in its longitudinal direction.  
     
     
         3 . A metal-composite laminate according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the metal foil layers ( 1 ) included therein have a thickness within the range from 0.1 to ≦1 mm, while each respective polymeric layer ( 2 ), including the fiber reinforcement ( 3 ) contained therein, has a thickness that never attains the thickness of its respective adjacent metal layer ( 1 ).  
     
     
         4 . A metal composite laminate according to  claim 2  or  3 , characterized in that the reinforcement fibers ( 3 ) contains therein consist at least in part of tubular carbon fibers.  
     
     
         5 . A metal-composite laminate according to either of claims  2  or  4 , characterized in that the reinforcement fibers ( 3 ) contains therein consist at least in part of tubular E- or S-glass fibers.