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In‐situ monitoring of the resin transfer molding impregnation and cure process
Author(s) -
Kranbuehl D.,
Eichinger D.,
Hamilton T.,
Clark R.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.760310110
Subject(s) - transfer molding , materials science , fabrication , molding (decorative) , composite material , process (computing) , composite number , viscosity , process engineering , computer science , engineering , medicine , mold , alternative medicine , pathology , operating system
Abstract Resin transfer molding (RTM) of advanced fiber architecture materials promises to be a cost effective process for obtaining composite parts with exceptional strength. However there are a larger number of material processing parameters that must be observed, known, and/or controlled during the resin transfer molding process. These include the viscosity both during impregnation and cure. In ‐ situ sensors which can observe these processing properties within the RTM tool during the fabrication process are essential. This paper will discuss recent work on the use of frequency dependent electromagnetic sensing (FDMS) techniques to monitor these properties in the RTM tool. Our objective is to use these sensing techniques to address problems of RTM scaleup for large complex parts and to develop a closed loop, intelligent, sensor controlled RTM fabrication process.