Experimental Study on the Optimization of the Autoclave Curing Cycle for the Enhancement of the Mechanical Properties of Prepreg Carbon–Epoxy Laminates
In this study, the influence of the technological parameters of autoclave curing on the resulting mechanical properties of laminates was investigated. The main criterion for optimizing the curing was to extend the processing window with a lower prepreg viscosity. At the same time, the issue of setti...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/16/1/47 |
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| author | Soňa Rusnáková Michal Grunt Milan Žaludek Jakub Javořík Barbora Kotlánová |
| author_facet | Soňa Rusnáková Michal Grunt Milan Žaludek Jakub Javořík Barbora Kotlánová |
| author_sort | Soňa Rusnáková |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this study, the influence of the technological parameters of autoclave curing on the resulting mechanical properties of laminates was investigated. The main criterion for optimizing the curing was to extend the processing window with a lower prepreg viscosity. At the same time, the issue of setting the pressure level before the heat ramp to the final cure temperature was also addressed. An experimental method of measuring the indentation viscosity of the prepreg was used to determine the viscosity profile. Despite the experimental nature of the method, the reliability of this method for rapid approximate identification of the processing window of the prepreg was verified by the results of the study. Several laminates with the same ply orientation were produced using the selected cure cycles, from which test specimens were cut with a water jet and inspected by confocal microscopy. The mechanical properties of tension and flexure were measured within the individual curing cycles using tests according to ISO standards. The data reported demonstrate that the experimental method of optimizing the curing parameters has successfully increased the selected mechanical properties. The resulting mechanical properties of the laminates were enhanced by up to 20% compared to the non-optimized cure cycle. The influence of the type of cure cycle on the resulting thickness of the cured laminate was evaluated in this study. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:59:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4a043652b01b4e24a3a0aaf39ace2141 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:59:13Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-4a043652b01b4e24a3a0aaf39ace21412024-01-10T15:06:39ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602023-12-011614710.3390/polym16010047Experimental Study on the Optimization of the Autoclave Curing Cycle for the Enhancement of the Mechanical Properties of Prepreg Carbon–Epoxy LaminatesSoňa Rusnáková0Michal Grunt1Milan Žaludek2Jakub Javořík3Barbora Kotlánová4Department of Production Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Vavrečkova 5669, 76001 Zlín, Czech RepublicDepartment of Production Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Vavrečkova 5669, 76001 Zlín, Czech RepublicDepartment of Production Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Vavrečkova 5669, 76001 Zlín, Czech RepublicDepartment of Production Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Vavrečkova 5669, 76001 Zlín, Czech RepublicDepartment of Production Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Vavrečkova 5669, 76001 Zlín, Czech RepublicIn this study, the influence of the technological parameters of autoclave curing on the resulting mechanical properties of laminates was investigated. The main criterion for optimizing the curing was to extend the processing window with a lower prepreg viscosity. At the same time, the issue of setting the pressure level before the heat ramp to the final cure temperature was also addressed. An experimental method of measuring the indentation viscosity of the prepreg was used to determine the viscosity profile. Despite the experimental nature of the method, the reliability of this method for rapid approximate identification of the processing window of the prepreg was verified by the results of the study. Several laminates with the same ply orientation were produced using the selected cure cycles, from which test specimens were cut with a water jet and inspected by confocal microscopy. The mechanical properties of tension and flexure were measured within the individual curing cycles using tests according to ISO standards. The data reported demonstrate that the experimental method of optimizing the curing parameters has successfully increased the selected mechanical properties. The resulting mechanical properties of the laminates were enhanced by up to 20% compared to the non-optimized cure cycle. The influence of the type of cure cycle on the resulting thickness of the cured laminate was evaluated in this study.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/16/1/47autoclavecomposite curingcure cyclecarbon–epoxy prepregmechanical properties |
| spellingShingle | Soňa Rusnáková Michal Grunt Milan Žaludek Jakub Javořík Barbora Kotlánová Experimental Study on the Optimization of the Autoclave Curing Cycle for the Enhancement of the Mechanical Properties of Prepreg Carbon–Epoxy Laminates Polymers autoclave composite curing cure cycle carbon–epoxy prepreg mechanical properties |
| title | Experimental Study on the Optimization of the Autoclave Curing Cycle for the Enhancement of the Mechanical Properties of Prepreg Carbon–Epoxy Laminates |
| title_full | Experimental Study on the Optimization of the Autoclave Curing Cycle for the Enhancement of the Mechanical Properties of Prepreg Carbon–Epoxy Laminates |
| title_fullStr | Experimental Study on the Optimization of the Autoclave Curing Cycle for the Enhancement of the Mechanical Properties of Prepreg Carbon–Epoxy Laminates |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experimental Study on the Optimization of the Autoclave Curing Cycle for the Enhancement of the Mechanical Properties of Prepreg Carbon–Epoxy Laminates |
| title_short | Experimental Study on the Optimization of the Autoclave Curing Cycle for the Enhancement of the Mechanical Properties of Prepreg Carbon–Epoxy Laminates |
| title_sort | experimental study on the optimization of the autoclave curing cycle for the enhancement of the mechanical properties of prepreg carbon epoxy laminates |
| topic | autoclave composite curing cure cycle carbon–epoxy prepreg mechanical properties |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/16/1/47 |
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