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Circular braided glass fiber/epoxy composites with helical architecture (coil spring) fabricated by p laster‐sacrificial compression molding for structural automotive applications
Author(s) -
Kim Sung Jun,
Shin Jungkyu,
Kim Jae Gwan,
Park KwangHoon,
Jang KeonSoo
Publication year - 2021
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/app.50405
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , epoxy , transfer molding , glass fiber , compression molding , composite number , electromagnetic coil , molding (decorative) , coil spring , braid , mold , fibre reinforced plastic , spring (device) , structural engineering , electrical engineering , engineering
Various approaches to reduce the weight of electronics and automobile devices have been explored. For instance, an alternative polymer was utilized to replace metals. In the present study, a new circular braided glass fiber/epoxy composite (braid angle: 45°, fiber: 48 vol%) with a helical structure was fabricated as a model coil spring for weight reduction. A plaster‐sacrificial compression mold was especially designed to fabricate helical composites without voids. The spring design was validated by the experimental results of torsional tests. Plastic deformations of the epoxy resin were measured using creep tests to eliminate high‐temperature plastic deformation (HTPD) of the composites. Pre‐strain applied thermal aging was utilized to remove HTPD. Mechanical properties of the composites were also investigated. The mechanism of mechanical failure was found to be the interfacial failure. For preparation of uncured prepreg, resin permeability was measured to a range of 10 −10 m 2 . Resin transfer in the glass fiber‐braided textiles occurred due to the combination of viscous and diffusional flow mechanisms. Based on the results in this study, the facilely designed coil spring composite can be used for various applications, especially automotive parts.