Post curing of Hansa-3 (VT- HNW) Components

This report contains the detads of post curing of Hansa-3 (VT- HNW) all composite airframe components provided byC-CADD, carried out using an in-house designed and fabricated large hot air oven (17mts x 2.0mts x 2.0mts). It details an optimum post cure cycle implemented, the temperature accuracy's, the various innovative approaches adapted to ensure the safety of the full scale components undergoing post cure in the oven. All the Hansa-3 (VT-HNW) airframe composite components post cured as per the standard optimum post cure cycle and the oven temperature monitored throughout around f 3degree C to ensure uniform post curing of components

Non-destructive evaluation of an infusion process using capacitive sensing technique

In this study, a capacitive sensing based non-destructive evaluation technique is applied to a vacuum assisted resin infusion process for the fabrication of glass fibre reinforced composites, as such different steps of the fabrication process (the injection of resin, the curing and the post curing) can be better understood to increase the quality of the fabricated part and reduce the fabrication costs. An interdigital coplanar capacitive sensor was designed, fabricated, and embedded in the glass fibre reinforced composites. Experimental data clearly shows different stages of the resin infusion process: wetting of the glass fibres marked by rapid increase of capacitance; domination of ionic conduction at the early stage of the cure when the resin is still in a liquid state; the vitrification point, indicating a transition of the resin from a gelly state to a glassy state, marked by the relatively big decrease in capacitance; further polymerization during post-curing, marked by a peak in capacitance at the beginning of post-curing cycle, and finally the completion of the cure marked by the saturation of capacitance to a final value. The different phenomena observed during the experiment can be used as a tool for in situ on-line monitoring of composites cure

Influence of exposure time on mechanical properties and photocuring conversion ratios for photosensitive materials used in additive manufacturing

The influence of UV post - curing process on mechanical properties as well as photocuring conversion ratios is presented. An analytical model to determinate the conversion ratio for frontal polymerization is used t o define 3D printing parameters in order to obtain a conversion profile as homogeno us as possible. The mechanical properties of 3D p rinted coupons with and without UV post - curing process were obtained through experimental tensile and bending tests. Furthermore, the experimental conversion ratios of printed samples were obtained by means of FTIR spectrometry analysis. It was observed that conversion ratios and some mechanical properties increase because of UV post - curing treatment, enabling the chance to optimize the whole manufacturing process in function of the 3D printed part requiremen ts.Postprint (author's final draft

RTM production monitoring of the A380 hinge arm droop nose mechanism: a multi-sensor approach

his research presents a case study of production monitoring on an aerospace composite component: the hinge arm of the droop nose mechanism on the Airbus A380 wing leading edge. A sensor network composed of Fibre Bragg Gratings, capacitive sensors for cure monitoring and thermocouples was embedded in its fibre reinforced lay-up and measurements were acquired throughout its Resin Transfer Moulding production process. Two main challenges had to be overcome: first, the integration of the sensor lines in the existing Resin Transfer Moulding mould without modifying it; second, the demoulding of the component without damaging the sensor lines. The proposed embedding solution has proved successful. The wavelength shifts of the Fibre Bragg Gratings were observed from the initial production stages, over the resin injection, the complete curing of the resin and the cooling-down prior to demoulding. The sensors proved to be sensitive to detecting the resin flow front, vacuum and pressure increase into the mould and the temperature increase caused by the resin curing. Measurements were also acquired during the post-curing cycle. Residual strains during all steps of the process were derived from the sensors’ wavelength shift, showing values up to 0.2% in compression. Moreover, the capacitive sensors were able to follow-up the curing degree during the production process. The sensors proved able to detect the resin flow front, whereas thermocouples could not measure an appreciable increase of temperature due to the fact that the resin had the same temperature as the mould

Effect of aging on the reinforcement efficiency of carbon nanotubes in epoxy matrix

The reinforcement efficiency of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in epoxy matrix was investigated in the elastic regime. Cyclic uniaxial tensile tests were performed at constant strain amplitude and increasing maximum strain. Post-curing of the epoxy and its composite at a temperature close to the glass transition temperature allowed us to explore the effect of aging on the reinforcement efficiency of CNT. It is found that the reinforcement efficiency is compatible with a mean field mixture rule of stress reinforcement by random inclusions. It also diminishes when the maximum strain increased and this effect is amplified by aging. The decrease of elastic modulus with increasing cyclic maximum strain is quite similar to the one observed for filled elastomers with increasing strain amplitude, a phenomenon often referred as the Payne effect

3D printing of cement composites

The aims of this study were to investigate the feasibility of generating 3D structures directly in rapid-hardening Portland cement (RHPC) using 3D Printing (3DP) technology. 3DP is a Additive Layer Manufacturing (ALM) process that generates parts directly from CAD in a layer-wise manner. 3D structures were successfully printed using a polyvinylalcohol: RHPC ratio of 3:97 w/w, with print resolutions of better than 1mm. The test components demonstrated the manufacture of features, including off-axis holes, overhangs / undercuts etc that would not be manufacturable using simple mould tools. Samples hardened by 1 day post-build immersion in water at RT offered Modulus of Rupture (MOR) values of up to 0.8±0.1MPa, and, after 26 days immersion in water at RT, offered MOR values of 2.2±0.2MPa, similar to bassanite-based materials more typically used in 3DP (1-3 MPa). Post-curing by water immersion restructured the structure, removing the layering typical of ALM processes, and infilling porosity

Effect of post curing, fibre content and resin-hardener mixing ratio on the properties of kenaf-aramid hybrid composites

Polymer composites reinforced with high strength synthetic fibres have been used for many engineering applications. Environmental and economic issues, encourage the exploration on the introduction natural-synthetic fibre hybrid composites. Mechanical properties are critical to composite performance and may due to the manufacturing process conditions. This study investigates the effect of post curing temperature, natural fibre content and resin-hardener mixing ratio on mechanical properties of kenaf-Kevlar hybrid composites. A full factorial design (23) was carried out to determine the effect these factors on the responses: flexural strength, flexural modulus and impact strength. A statistical study has been performed in order to determine the how the factors affect the responses. The study showed that post-curing temperature, kenaf content and resin-hardener mixing ratio gives significant effects on the mechanical properties of kenaf-Kevlar hybrid composites

Evacuated, displacement compression mold

A process of molding long thin-wall tubular bodies from thermosetting plastic molding compounds is described wherein the tubular body lengths may be several times the diameters. The process is accomplished by loading a predetermined quantity of molding compound into a female mold cavity closed at one end by a force mandrel. After closing the other end of the female mold with a balance mandrel, the loaded cavity is evacuated by applying a vacuum of from one-to-five mm pressure for a period of fifteen-to-thirty minutes. The mold temperature is raised to the minimum temperature at which the resin constituent of the compound will soften or plasticize and a pressure of 2500 psi is applied