CHARACTERIZATION OF PROCESSING WINDOW FOR RESIN TRANSFER MOLDING AN ADVANCED COMPOSITE

摘要

Resin transfer molding (RTM) promises to be a cost-effective process for manufacturing advanced composite with exceptional strength. It eliminates problems involving prepreg preparation, storage and lay-up associated with the conventional autoclave lay-up process. Among a large number of variables related to the process and product performance in RTM, optimization and process control require good understanding of the effect of process parameters in the processing. A scientific approach pertaining to an understanding of the fundamental chemical and physical events governing the resin behavior during RTM processing was presented in this study. The approach takes into account two key aspects, which occur simultaneously during the mold fill of the RTM process: the cure reaction and viscosity characteristics of the resin matrix. Processing window in terms of temperature and pressure for the RTM process of glass fabric reinforced composites based on PR500 epoxy resin was demonstrated. Actual RTM moldings were produced to verify the processing conditions and highlighted with the Interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), void content and micrographs.