This paper seeks to quantify the influence of fiber length on the mechanicalproperties of discontinuous carbon fiber/ epoxy laminates produced by compressionmolding. New interest is being generated toward low-cost composite materialforms for aerospace applications, as shown by the structural window frames on theBoeing 787 Dreamliner. The high-volume carbon fiber content, combined withaerospace-qualified epoxy resins, opens up opportunities for more aircraft parts tobe made of non-metallic materials. This material-process combination is ideal forlarge volume production of three-dimensional parts, allowing for the molding ofcomplex contours, thickness variations, and stiffening ribs. Interesting relationshipsbetween fiber length and tensile, compressive, and flexural moduli and strengthsare observed.
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