PROCESS FOR FABRICATION OF FIBER COMPOSITES USING DUAL-CURE FREE-FORM 3D-PRINTED TAILORED FIBER PLACEMENT PREFORM

摘要

A method for generating a thermoset Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composite preform includes: dispensing, from a print head of a 3D-printer, a dual-cure resin coated fiber including a dual-cure resin with a ultra-violet (UV)-curable component and a thermally-curable component; curing, during the dispensing of the dual-cure resin coated fiber, the UV-curable component with a UV light source such that the dual-cure resin coated fiber is partially cured and contacting lengths of the partially-cured dual-cure resin coated fiber bond together; and positioning the print head during the dispensing and curing of the dual-cure resin coated fiber to three-dimensionally print the thermoset FRP composite preform.