Speaker
Description
High production rates and short cycle times are essential for an efficient manufacturing of high-performance components made of carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites (CFRPC). Within the framework of the project AIRPOXY, a new epoxy based vitrimer resin was developed, that is targeting at reducing costs in production and maintenance, as well as repair and operations (MRO) costs of CFRPC parts in aeronautics. Vitrimers are polymers, that provide similar specific properties as thermosets at room temperature, but can be processed like thermoplastics at higher temperatures. Due to dynamic-covalent bonds, vitrimers offer high stiffness, good chemical resistance and low tendency to creep together with the advantages of multi-reformability, weldability and recyclability. This unique material behavior allows the application of processes, which are commonly used within the production of thermoplastic CFRPC like continuous compression molding (CCM) and thermoforming.
In this study, the processability of carbon fiber reinforced vitrimer (CFRV) prepregs by hot pressing is investigated. Prepreg types with different resin formulations, curing rates, resin content and glass transition temperature were processed in order to determine the best possible material and processing parameters for the bonding of single layer prepregs to multi-layer laminates. The material layers were consolidated at temperatures between 180 °C and 240 °C, holding times between 5 minutes and 2 hours, as well as varying process pressures (2 – 4 MPa). The quality of the laminates was determined by microscopic examination of the pore content. Additionally, interlaminar shear strength tests (ILSS) were carried out in order to establish a correlation between microscopic properties and mechanical performance.
The results show that CFRV prepregs can be processed into high quality void-free laminates with an interlaminar shear strength of up to 50 MPa.
| Speaker Country | Germany |
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