TY - JOUR
T1 - An experimental investigation of the consolidation behaviour of uncured prepregs under processing conditions
AU - Nixon-Pearson, Ollie
AU - Belnoue, Jonathan
AU - Ivanov, Dmitry
AU - Potter, Kevin
AU - Hallett, Stephen
PY - 2017/6
Y1 - 2017/6
N2 - This paper presents a methodology and research study that characterises toughened materials, as is needed for optimisation of composite manufacturing processes. The specific challenge is to cover all of the stages of advanced composite manufacturing: fibre deposition by automatic fibre placement machines, hot or room temperature debulking, and consolidation in an autoclave. In these processes the material experiences a wide range of processing parameters: pressure, load rate, temperatures, and boundary constraints. In these conditions toughened prepregs, exhibit complex rheological behaviour, with diverse flow and deformation mechanisms at various structural scales. Here a series of experimental results are presented in order to describe the temperature, viscosity, flow mechanisms, and scale-effects of simple un-cured prepreg stacks. The driver for this study is to obtain a further understanding of flow mechanisms throughout the consolidation phase of composites manufacture since fibre path defects are most likely to occur during compaction, prior to vitrification.
AB - This paper presents a methodology and research study that characterises toughened materials, as is needed for optimisation of composite manufacturing processes. The specific challenge is to cover all of the stages of advanced composite manufacturing: fibre deposition by automatic fibre placement machines, hot or room temperature debulking, and consolidation in an autoclave. In these processes the material experiences a wide range of processing parameters: pressure, load rate, temperatures, and boundary constraints. In these conditions toughened prepregs, exhibit complex rheological behaviour, with diverse flow and deformation mechanisms at various structural scales. Here a series of experimental results are presented in order to describe the temperature, viscosity, flow mechanisms, and scale-effects of simple un-cured prepreg stacks. The driver for this study is to obtain a further understanding of flow mechanisms throughout the consolidation phase of composites manufacture since fibre path defects are most likely to occur during compaction, prior to vitrification.
KW - Prepreg
KW - Microstructures
KW - Optical Microscopy
KW - Consolidation
KW - Manufacturing
U2 - 10.1177/0021998316665681
DO - 10.1177/0021998316665681
M3 - Article (Academic Journal)
VL - 51
SP - 1911
EP - 1924
JO - Journal of Composite Materials
JF - Journal of Composite Materials
SN - 0021-9983
IS - 13
ER -