INFLUENCES OF MOLD TEMPERATURE AND VACUUM ON THE RESIN TRANSFER MOLDED POLYMER COMPOSITE PLATES

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Graduate student, Middle East Technical University, Metallurgical and Materials Eng. Dept. Ankara, Turkey.

2 Professor, Middle East Technical University, Metallurgical and Materials Eng. Dept. Ankara, Turkey.

Abstract

ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study is to investigate the influences of mold temperature and vacuum on the mechanical properties of epoxy matrix woven glass fiber reinforced composite specimens produced by Resin Transfer Molding (RTM). For this purpose, six different mold temperatures (25º, 40º, 60º, 80º, 100º, 120ºC) and under vacuum and without vacuum conditions are used. Specimens are characterized by using ultrasonic C-Scan inspection, mechanical tests (Tensile, Impact), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It is observed that mechanical properties of the specimens produced with a mold temperature of 60ºC proved to be the highest (e.g. 16% higher tensile strength and 43% higher Charpy impact toughness). Without the application of vacuum, the percentage of “voids” increased leading to deterioration of mechanical properties, as 26% loss in Charpy impact toughness and 5% loss in tensile strength.

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