Effects of the exposition of an autoclave prepreg to the processing environment on its properties, curing cycle and final composite behavior

One of the major concerns when using prepreg materials for advanced composite manufacturing is the cure advancement. Although this type of prepreg curing is usually programmed to occur at high temperatures, the exposition to environmental conditions during processing, intrinsic to the industrial pro...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of advanced manufacturing technology 2020-02, Vol.106 (11-12), p.5129-5136
Main Authors: de Andrade Raponi, Olivia, Barbosa, Lorena Cristina Miranda, Junior, José Everardo Baldo, Junior, Antonio Carlos Ancelotti, Guimarães, Alessandro
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Autoclaving
CAE) and Design
Computer-Aided Engineering (CAD
Curing
Engineering
Industrial and Production Engineering
Interfacial shear strength
Laminates
Mechanical Engineering
Media Management
Monitoring
Original Article
Prepregs
Rheological properties
Rheometry
Shear strength
Thermodynamic properties
Tracking
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Summary:One of the major concerns when using prepreg materials for advanced composite manufacturing is the cure advancement. Although this type of prepreg curing is usually programmed to occur at high temperatures, the exposition to environmental conditions during processing, intrinsic to the industrial production, leads to the cure advancement and, consequently, to the detriment of prepreg’s processability. Therefore, techniques that provide accurate, relatively low-cost, and fast alternatives for tracking prepreg out-time are of great interest for composite industries. In this scenario, the present work aims to provide information on the use of thermal and rheological characterization techniques for monitoring the prepreg out-time. To do so, prepreg specimens were aged for pre-established periods (0 to 60 days) and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic shear rheometry techniques. Also, laminates were manufactured from aged prepregs, and their properties were characterized by ultrasound and volume fraction analyses and by interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) tests. The combination of the findings provides out-time tracking and properties monitoring alternatives for industries and points out to the possibility of extending prepreg out-time limits, reducing the waste on prepreg processing, one of the main challenges associated with composite manufacturing.
ISSN:0268-3768
1433-3015
DOI:10.1007/s00170-020-05022-5