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Flow and Compaction During the Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding Process
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2001
Year
Materials ScienceCarbon Fiber PreformFibre-reinforced PlasticFiber ReinforcementEngineeringFiber-reinforced CompositeMechanical EngineeringComposite TechnologySealantEpoxy ResinContinuous-fibre CompositeMolding (Process)Resin Pressure
The flow of an epoxy resin and compaction behavior of carbon fiber preform during vacuum- assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) infiltration was measured using an instrumented tool. Composite panels were fabricated by the VARTM process using SAERTEX(R)2 multi-axial non- crimp carbon fiber fabric and the A.T.A.R.D. SI-ZG-5A epoxy resin. Resin pressure and preform thickness variation was measured during infiltration. The effects of the resin on the compaction behavior of the preform were measured. The local preform compaction during the infiltration is a combination of wetting and spring-back deformations. Flow front position computed by the 3DINFIL model was compared with the experimental data.