Evaluation of textile composites manufactured by infusion

Abstract

The polymer composites provide physicochemical and mechanical properties which in many cases have advantages over structures made of steel and aluminum. Additionally, with the evolution of demand for new and challenging applications, manufacturing techniques are increasingly moving to the use of methods and equipments that man dependence is increasingly reduced to ensure quality and repeatability of manufactured material. Examples of this gradual development are the fiber placement (FP) and tape laying (TL) processes in addition to the already established BMC, SMC, RTM, filament winding and infusion processes. Considering, however, geometric shapes as well as amount and orientation of fiber, few of them can meet these requirements satisfactorily. Textile preforms manufacturing techniques allow to lay-up the desired amount of fiber in any position as well as guide them in the directions according to design, also allowing to create different geometric shapes and local reinforcement. In the present study unidirectional high strength carbon fiber preforms were manufactured by the Tailored Fiber Placement (TFP) process using nonwoven fabric substrates. Composite panels were manufactured by infusion and the geometry specimens followed the dimensions given by ASTM D-3039. Results of tensile test specimens in the longitudinal direction exhibited a strength of 2285 MPa, Young modulus of 137 GPa and strain around 1.47% for panels with 54% fiber ratio. In the transverse direction the results were respectively 37 MPa, 5 GPa and 0.60.