PRESSURE TRANSFER BEHAVIOUR OF RUBBER MOULD AND THE EFFECTS ON CONSOLIDATION OF L-SHAPE COMPOSITE LAMINATES

摘要

The pressure transfer properties of a rubber mould used in an autoclave process were investigated experimentally by measurements of the pressure distribution on the mould surface during processing using a pressure-sensitive paper. The effects of the pressure distribution on the interface between an L-shaped rubber male mould and an aluminium die in an autoclave process on the consolidation of L-shaped carbon fibre-reinforced bismaleimide resin composite laminates were investigated and the results are discussed in terms of defect formation and process control.