Towards mould free composites manufacturing of thermoset prepregs. Incremental curing with localised pressure-heat (ICULPH)

摘要

The use of composite materials is fundamental for high value added manufacturing industries such as automotive and aerospace. The major cost of producing composite parts is to produce moulds, however, mould wear over time. Therefore, a novel contribution towards eliminating the use of moulds is presented in this paper. A newly developed mechatronic system, to cure carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) samples, is described. The system is capable of curing thermoset composites through a localised pressure-heat that makes use of force feedback control to achieve a uniform curing pressure on the CFRP samples. The system was tested with 2-, 4-, 6- and 8-layer CFRP samples in a test matrix consisting of a pressure range of 70 to 310 KPa and a temperature range of 190°C to 220°C. The CFRP samples are benchmarked against standard production methods such as autoclave and hot press. These samples are analysed with three-point-bending and differential scanning calorimetry tests in order to obtain flexural strength and degree of cure, respectively. The results and implications of the tests are discussed and further developments towards mould free composites are highlighted.