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Effect of material and process variables on the performance of resin‐transfer‐molded epoxy fabric composites
Author(s) -
Lee ChangLun,
Wei KungHwa
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/1097-4628(20000906)77:10<2149::aid-app7>3.0.co;2-j
Subject(s) - transfer molding , composite material , materials science , epoxy , flexural strength , mold , volume fraction , void (composites) , molding (decorative) , glass fiber , compression molding
The effects of material and process variables on glass fabric‐reinforced epoxy composites by the resin‐transfer molding (RTM) process were studied. It was found that the molded aged resin with 55% fiber exhibited twice the mold‐filling time and caused a 7–15% deterioration in the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and in the flexural strength of the composites as compared to those of the composites molded with fresh resin. At a 55% fiber volume fraction, composites molded with aged resin resulted in a 35% longer filling time and a 4–12% decreased ILSS and flexural strength as compared to those of the composites at a 44% fiber volume fraction. Moldings with a perimeter inlet exhibited a 65% shorter mold‐filling time, 28% reduced void content, and 6% improved flexural strength as compared to those of the composites molded with the center inlet. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 2149–2155, 2000