Abstract
Composite manufacturing uses pressure and temperature in lay-up to produce parts with high volume fractions, limited features, and low porosity. Modern prepregs are very complex, incorporating significant levels of thermoplastic toughener that makes them behave dually: as unconsolidated thermoplastics at low temperatures, and conventional thermoset prepregs at elevated temperatures. This paper presents an experimental programme to study the compressibility of a modern prepreg at various temperatures and constraint conditions using a Dynamic Mechanical Analyser. Testing revealed a number of physical phenomena, including gradual transition from shear squeezing flow to bleeding percolation flow, strong constraining effects of adjacent non-cured plies, and non-monotonic compressibility over the temperature range of 20-90°C.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | ECCM 2012 - Composites at Venice, Proceedings of the 15th European Conference on Composite Materials |
Publisher | European Conference on Composite Materials, ECCM |
ISBN (Print) | 9788888785332 |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2012 |
Event | 15th European Conference on Composite Materials: Composites at Venice, ECCM 2012 - Venice, United Kingdom Duration: 24 Jun 2012 → 28 Jun 2012 |
Conference
Conference | 15th European Conference on Composite Materials: Composites at Venice, ECCM 2012 |
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Country | United Kingdom |
City | Venice |
Period | 24/06/12 → 28/06/12 |
Keywords
- Automation
- Compaction
- Deformation
- Prepreg