INVESTIGATIONS ON IMPREGNATION EFFECTS ON A NON-CRIMP FIBER BED

摘要

Permeability and viscosity are the key input parameters for performing LCM (Liquid Composite Molding). Currently the measurement expenses for the determination of permeability are very high. In order to reduce these expenses and to predict the permeability value in a more theoretical manner the interaction between fiber bed and impregnating fluid has to be clarified. This paper presents an overview about experimental and evaluation techniques in order to identify interaction of fluid and dry fiber structure driven impregnation. Flow experiments are executed using an epoxy resin and a non-crimp fiber bed. Attention is paid to the global flow behavior as well as to the impregnation effects on a mesoscopic level. Additionally the viscosity characteristic of the resin used is investigated. Finally basic micro structural simulations are performed and verified by the evaluation of the flow experiments.