Stabilizing textile preforms by means of liquid resin print: a feasibility study

This study demonstrates the feasibility of creating stable, preconsolidated, yet permeable preforms for liquid resin infusion (RIFT) manufacture of composite materials. While being one of the cheapest and simplest methods of composites manufacture, RIFT with flexible tooling is known for high risk of dimensional andinternal defects due to insufficient consolidation of textile preforms. Achieving the quality of a rigid mold solution, at the cost and simplicity of a flexible mold process, is the principal challenge of the RIFT. The approach presented suggests stabilizing a compliant preform through pointwise and highly controlled integration of a binder, and its consolidation prior to liquid molding. The printed resin creates a stiff skeleton, securing material for resin infusion and curing. This study explores the feasibility and efficiency of novel binding techniques, and the effects it may have on preform properties. Successful implementation of the concept for a multiply woven preform is demonstrated and the concept potential is discussed.