Composite Manufacturing Processes
Composite Manufacturing Processes. Dr. Yiping Qiu. Composite Manufacturing Processes. Thermoset composites Short fiber reinforced Continuous fiber reinforced Prepreg resin transfer Thermoplastic composites Commingle Impregnated. Composite Manufacturing Processes. Processes:
Composite Manufacturing Processes
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Composite Manufacturing Processes Dr. Yiping Qiu
Composite Manufacturing Processes • Thermoset composites • Short fiber reinforced • Continuous fiber reinforced • Prepreg • resin transfer • Thermoplastic composites • Commingle • Impregnated
Composite Manufacturing Processes • Processes: • Hand Lay-up • Pre-preg forming • Pressure molding • Vacuum bagging • Filament winding
Composite Manufacturing Processes • Processes: • Pultrusion • Spray method • Sheet molding • Bulk molding • Resin transfer molding
Hand lay-up • Advantages: • low cost tools • versatile: wide range of products • Disadvantages: • time consuming • easy to form air bubbles and disorientation of fibers • inconsistency
Prepreg forming • Machine
Prepreg forming • Advantages: • orientation of fibers can be changed • consistent • high productivity • Disadvantages: • continuous process needs more customers • limited shelf life • delamination
Pressure molding • Advantages: • wide range of shapes • integrate parts • consistency • structural stability • relatively simple • Disadvantages: • high cost of machine • time consuming to heat up, cool down and curing • expensive molds (strong materials required) • no intricate parts • large volume of products
Vacuum bagging • Process
Vacuum bagging • Advantages: • simple design • any fiber/matrix combination • ok with cheap mold material • better quality for the cost • Disadvantages: • cannot be heated up too much • breeder clothe has to be replaced frequently • low pressure (760 mm Hg the most) • slowest speed • inconsistency
Filament winding products • Compressed air tanks • High-pressure CO2 tanks and bottles • Water softener systems • Rescue air tanks • Sail boat masts • Compressed Natural Gas tanks • Defense/Aerospace systems • Lightpoles
Filament winding • Advantages: • using existing textile processes. • quick, easy to handle package. • parts can have huge size. • Disadvantages: • spinning speed is limited due to resin penetration and splashing, traveler speed and yarn breakage. • curing by heat is not easy to apply. • shape of the products limited (only cylindrical possible).
Pultrusion • Advantages: • Automated processes. • High speed. • Versatile cross-sectional shape. • Continuous reinforcement. • Disadvantages: • Die can be easily messed up. • Expensive die. • Mainly thermoset matrix.
Spray method • Advantages: • Continuous process • Any materials can be used as mold. • Error can be corrected by re-spraying. • Disadvantages: • Slow. • inconsistency. • No control of fiber orientation. • Only one side finished. • Environmental unfriendly.
Sheet molding • Advantages • High productivity thus inexpensive • consistency • Disadvantages • low volume fraction. • Only board can be made.
Bulk molding • Advantages • Highest volume fraction for short fiber reinforced composites (50%) • Good mechanical properties • Finish can be applied • Inserts and attachments possible • Disadvantages • High temperature and high pressure • Random fiber orientation • Cannot be used for intricate parts • Staple fibers only.
Resin transfer molding http://www.plastech.co.uk/Mtrtm.html
Resin transfer molding • Advantages • Components will have good surface finish on both sides • Selective reinforcement and accurate fiber management is achievable • Ability to build-in fiber volume fraction loadings up to 65% • Uniformity of thickness and fiber loading, uniform shrinkage • Inserts may be incorporated into moldings • Tooling costs comparatively low • Uses only low pressure injection • Low volatile emission during processing • Ability to produce near net shape moldings • Process can be automated, resulting in higher production rates • Ability to mould complex structural and hollow shapes • Low resultant voids • Ability to achieve from 0.5mm to 90mm laminate thickness • Disadvantages • waste some material (spill) • curing time long • hard for intricate parts
Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding • http://www.futuremediacreations.com/technoire/vartm.htm
Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding • Advantages? • … • Disadvantages?