Monitoring of the resin flow during the part filling of resin infusion processes is critical because the flow is responsible for the final mechanical properties of the part. Formation of dry spots due to poor configuration or operation of the process is a common problem. A new commercially available resin flow front analysis system is being introduced based on technology developed by the U.S. Army Research Laboratory. The system is used for the in-process monitoring of resin flow and cure in Resin Transfer Molding (RTM), SCRIMP, vacuum assisted RTM, and other resin infusion processes. The system consists of a sensor grid, an electronics package designed to rapidly interrogate the grid, and a Windows-based software the electrical properties at intersecting nodes of conductive wires or fibers that are manually laid out in the part in separate, electrically isolated planes to form a grid pattern. The wires or fibers are ordinary materials so that the "sensor" cost is minimal. Furthermore, if Aramid or graphite fibers are used, the integrity of the structure should not be affected. When resin reaches each node, the electrical properties of that node will change and are recorded by the system. This provides a map of the part filling process and subsequent cure. Based on this information, part design and process development time can be greatly reduced.
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