Repair of underground buried pipes with resin transfer molding

Repairing and replacing of worn-out underground pipes, such as sewer pipes, water-supply pipes, gas pipes, and communication cables by excavating not only cause traffic congestion but also produce large amount of waste. Also, the operation requires heavy equipments and longer operating time and high cost.

In this study, the repairing–reinforcing process of underground pipes with glass fiber fabric polymer composites using resin transfer molding (RTM) which overcomes the problems of present trenchless technologies has been developed. The developed process requires shorter operation time and lower cost with smaller and simpler operating equipments than conventional trenchless technologies. For the faultless operation, a simple method to apply pressure and vacuum to the reinforcement was developed. The resin wetting and void removal during RTM process for very large and long-composite buried pipes were experimentally investigated, and the efficient void removal method was suggested. Cure status and resin filling were monitored with a commercial dielectrometry cure monitoring system, LACOMCURE.

From the investigation, it has been found that the developed repair technology with appropriate process parameters and on-line cure monitoring has many advantages over conventional methods.     

Application of calcium carbonate in resin transfer molding process: An experimental investigation

The resin transfer molding (RTM) process is used to manufacture advanced composite materials made of continuous glass or carbon fibers embedded in a thermoset polymer matrix. In this process, a fabric preform is prepared, and is then placed into a mold cavity. After the preform is compacted between the mold parts, thermoset polymer is transferred from an injection machine to the mold cavity through injection gate(s). Resin flows through the porous fabric, and eventually flows out through the ventilation port(s). After the resin cure process (cross‐linking of the polymer), the mold is opened and the part is removed. The objective of this study is to verify the application of calcium carbonate mixed in resin in the RTM process. Several rectilinear infiltration experiments were conducted using glass fiber mat molded in a RTM system with cavity dimensions of 320 × 150 × 3.6 mm, room temperature, maximum injection pressure 0.202 bar and different content of CaCO₃ (10 and 40%) and particle size (mesh opening 38 and 75 µm). The results show that the use of filled resin with CaCO₃ influences the preform impregnation during the RTM molding, changing the filling time and flow front position, however it is possible to make composite with a good quality and low cost.     

Mechanical properties of biaxial weft-knitted flax composites

There has been an increasing interest of using natural fibers to replace glass fibers for composite reinforcement nowadays. However, most of the developments have focused on the random discontinuous fiber composite system. In this study, low cost flax continuous yarn was used to make non-crimp fabric for composite reinforcement based on a biaxial weft-knitted structure. A modified flat knitting machine was developed to produce this kind of reinforcement. Both NaOH treated and untreated reinforcements were used for fabricating the composite samples through the vacuum assisted resin transfer molding process (VARTM). The mechanical properties of the flax yarn, reinforcement and composites were tested and the effect of the NaOH treatment was discussed. The results revealed that although the NaOH treatment resulted in the reduction of the mechanical properties of both yarn and reinforcement, the mechanical properties of the composites could be considerably improved by the NaOH treatment of the reinforcement. The study has provided a simpler way of using low cost natural fiber yarns made from flax long-fiber bundles to produce high performance composites.     

国产CCF300碳纤维单向织物液体成型工艺性及其复合材料力学性能

选取国产碳纤维CCF300所制备的2种单向织物,单向无纬织物U3160及单向无屈曲织物KUC160,分别对其预成型体进行压缩特性和渗透特性测试,以研究2种单向织物的液体成型工艺性,并采用树脂传递模塑(RTM)工艺制备2种单向织物/双马来酰亚胺树脂基复合材料,测试并对比其面内力学性能。结果表明:预成型体压缩试验中,嵌套效应受压力及织物层数影响较大,压力越高、层数越多,嵌套效应越显著。U3160织物的嵌套效应较KUC160织物更为明显,在较高压力下,KUC160织物预成型体的纤维体积分数较U3160织物的下降了约20%。渗透率测试结果表明:相比U3160织物,KUC160织物0°方向的渗透率较高,而90°方向的渗透率有所降低;这是由于经编线的绑缚作用能促进0°方向的宏观流动,而阻碍90°方向的微观渗透。此外,KUC160织物的经编线与U3160织物的纬向纱线的导流作用也对渗透率有影响。力学性能试验结果表明:相比U3160织物增强复合材料,KUC160织物增强复合材料0°方向的拉伸、弯曲和压缩性能均有所下降,拉伸强度和弯曲模量降幅最大,分别约为11%和21%;而层间剪切强度有小幅提高,增幅约为8%。      

UV光固化玻璃纤维布/EP-PBMA树脂复合材料的力学性能

设计了光热共引发环氧树脂-聚甲基丙烯酸丁酯(EP-PBMA)树脂,并制备了UV光固化玻璃纤维布增强EP-PBMA树脂基复合材料,研究了不同EP与PBMA质量比的玻璃纤维布/EP-PBMA复合材料在不同加载速率下的拉伸力学性能。结果表明: 玻璃纤维布/EP-PBMA复合材料具有明显的应变率效应;随着加载速率增大,复合材料的拉伸强度和弹性模量呈增大趋势;EP-PBMA树脂基体的组成对应变率效应有明显的影响;玻璃纤维布/EP-PBMA复合材料与纯EP基复合材料相比,在较低的加载速率下具有更高的拉伸强度,但当加载速率达到50 mm/min时拉伸强度较低。     

GF/PP复合纱针织物预型件的线圈密度对复合材料拉伸性能的影响

研究了由GF/PP复合纱编织而成的1+1罗纹针织物预型件的线圈密度对热压成型后的玻璃纤维针织物增强聚丙烯复合材料拉伸性能的影响。对6种由不同线圈密度的GF/PP复合纱1+1罗纹针织物预型件经热压得到的复合材料进行的拉伸性能测试研究表明:随着复合纱针织物预型件线圈密度的逐渐增大,复合成型后的复合材料的拉伸强度先逐渐增大,而后稍有降低;断裂伸长的变化趋势则恰恰相反。光学显微镜和扫描电镜照片研究表明:随着针织物预型件线圈密度的增大,成型后的复合材料的空隙率减小,纤维/基体分布更加均匀;与此同时,线圈的曲率半径减小,玻璃纤维脆断现象加剧。      

Flow analysis during compression of partially impregnated fiber preform under controlled force

Compression resin transfer molding (CRTM) is an alternative solution to conventional resin transfer molding processes. It offers the capability to produce net shape composites with fast cycle times making it conducive for high volume production. The resin flow during this process can be separated into three phases: (i) metered amount of resin injection into a partially closed mold containing dry fiber preform, (ii) closure of the mold until it is in contact with the fiber preform displacing all the resin into the preform and (iii) further mold closure to the desired thickness of the part compacting the preform and redistributing the resin. Understanding the flow behavior in every phase is imperative for predictive process modeling that guarantees full preform saturation within a given time and under specified force constraints.     

Dry fiber automated placement of carbon fibrous preforms

The superior material properties of carbon fiber-reinforced composites make them especially attractive for applications in aeronautics and aerospace industries. Cost reduction and time saving are continuously driving industry, leading to new industrial challenges which include manufacturing composite structures with optimal mechanical performances using the potential of advanced processes using robotics.To produce complex part shapes, technologies implying fabric draping in a mold imply large waste amount, fabric structure variability and uncertainties concerning local fiber volume fraction amount and thus final mechanical properties. To overcome such issues and comply with cost and time efficiency, automated dry fiber placement for preform manufacturing is proposed. This approach allows to integrate many functions in a complex part thank to the ability of the robot to steer fiber tows at specific locations. The final composite part is obtained by injecting the produced preform with resin using RTM (Resin Transfer Molding) or infusion process.The presented project aims to define the influence of the process driving parameters during fiber placement on the final preform properties range. Preforms were produced using a lab-scale automated placement demonstrator. Three preforms configurations were tested to highlight the influence of the preform structure on permeability and mechanical parameters through characterization of the compression behavior and permeability of the produced preforms. Choice of configuration will affect mechanical properties on the manufactured preforms, whereas creation of open channels to enhance the flow propagation during manufacturing does not necessarily increase the preform permeability.     

玻璃纤维增强体形式对酚醛泡沫性能的影响

针对酚醛泡沫脆性大、强度低等缺点,采用3种不同增强形式的玻璃纤维增强体,即短切玻璃纤维(SGF)、酚醛树脂浸渍固化的玻璃纤维针(GFN)及三维间隔连体织物,对酚醛泡沫进行增强.研究了纤维含量和纤维长度对酚醛泡沫压缩性能的影响规律,对比了不同增强形式纤维增强酚醛泡沫复合材料的压缩性能与保温性能.结果表明:当SGF长度为3 mm,与基体质量比为5%时,SGF增强酚醛泡沫的比压缩强度最佳,较纯泡沫的提高了21%;GFN(长度5 mm,与基体质量比为25%)增强酚醛泡沫的比强度提高8%;三维间隔连体织物增强酚醛泡沫的比强度虽略有下降,但其压缩强度(0.239 MPa)达到了承重类酚醛泡沫的要求.SGF和GFN增强的酚醛泡沫的热导率与纯酚醛泡沫的相比略有上升,但仍符合高效保温材料的要求;三维间隔连体织物增强酚醛泡沫的热导率上升明显.     

Quasi-Isotropic Triaxially Braided Cellulose-Reinforced Composites

In this article, we investigate experimentally and analytically the mechanical properties of a natural fiber quasi-isotropic triaxially braided composite. The composite is prepared from triaxially braided regenerated cellulose fibers and a high-bio-content epoxy resin system using a resin infusion process. Simultaneous mechanical loading, digital image correlation, and acoustic emission tests were performed on notched and unnotched specimens to understand the tensile behavior of the composites and the initiation and propagation of damage. Experimental results were compared with the effective tensile properties determined using an analytical model. The model is a discrete three-layer analytical representation based on a mechanics transformation-based representation of the quasi-isotropic braided layers. The model is used to determine the elastic stiffness and Poisson effects based on the constituent properties such as the fiber volume fractions, the waviness of the bias tows, and the relative thickness of the braided preform. The experimental results show the analytical model's ability in predicting the composite's elastic properties. The unique fabric architecture is found to have a large influence on the strength properties across the different specimen geometries investigated.     

预制体结构对针刺石英纤维/环氧树脂复合材料导热性能的影响

为了探索预制体结构对针刺石英纤维/环氧树脂复合材料导热性能的影响,采用逐层针刺技术和树脂传递模塑工艺制作了针刺石英纤维/环氧树脂复合材料。利用瞬态热线法测量了环氧树脂和不同预制体结构的针刺石英纤维/环氧树脂复合材料的导热性能。结果表明:随着纤维体积分数的提高,针刺石英纤维/环氧树脂复合材料的导热性能得到了提升。其中,用石英纤维短切毡增强环氧树脂的导热性能比环氧树脂提高了35.9%。当针刺石英纤维/环氧树脂复合材料中的无纬布纤维平行于热线时,采用石英纤维短切毡与石英纤维无纬布共同增强的2种针刺石英纤维/环氧树脂复合材料的导热性能分别比环氧树脂提高了45.5%和46.4%;而当无纬布纤维垂直于热线时,导热性能比环氧树脂分别提高了56.4%和61.8%。针刺石英纤维/环氧树脂复合材料的导热性能不仅受石英纤维体积分数影响,也受到预制体中无纬布纤维体积分数和取向的影响。      

Preparation and mechanical properties of carbon nanotube grafted glass fabric/epoxy multi-scale composites

In the present paper, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were chemically grafted onto surfaces of the amino silane treated glass fabric by a novel chemical route for the first time to create 3D network on the glass fibers. The chemical bonding process was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The glass fabric/CNT/epoxy multi-scale composite laminates were fabricated with the CNT grafted fabrics using vacuum assisted resin infusion molding. Tensile tests were conducted on fabricated multi-scale composites, indicating the grafting CNTs on glass fabric resulted a decrease (11%) in ultimate tensile strength while toughness of the multi-scale composite laminates were increased up to 57%. Flexural tests revealed that the multi-scale composite laminates prepared with CNT grafted glass fabric represent recovering after first load fall. The interfacial reinforcing mechanisms were discussed based on fracture morphologies of the multi-scale composites.     

碳纤维-玻璃纤维层内混杂单向增强环氧树脂复合材料拉伸性能

采用不同混杂比的碳纤维-玻璃纤维层内经向混编单轴向织物制备了混杂纤维增强环氧树脂复合材料, 研究了不同混杂结构和不同混杂比的碳纤维-玻璃纤维/环氧树脂复合材料拉伸性能的变化及破坏形式。0°拉伸结果表明:同种混杂织物的不同混杂结构中, 碳纤维相对集中的完全对齐结构强度最高, 不同混杂比织物的完全对齐结构强度相当;碳纤维-玻璃纤维/环氧树脂复合材料的模量遵循混合定律。90°拉伸结果表明:纤维与树脂间的界面结合强度为碳纤维/树脂>玻璃纤维/树脂, 碳纤维-玻璃纤维/环氧树脂复合材料的强度、模量与材料厚度方向上界面的不同形式(单一或交替界面、碳纤维或玻璃纤维的分布位置等)有关, 与碳纤维的含量基本无关。      

三向正交预制体织造参数对C/C复合材料性能的影响

以Z向间距不同的三向正交结构预制体为研究对象,采用化学气相渗透和浸渍树脂相结合的工艺制备碳/碳(C/C)复合材料,研究织造参数对C/C复合材料微观结构和弯曲性能的影响。以三向正交预制体最小的重复结构为单元建立计算模型,获得三向正交预制体纤维含量与织造参数的关系式并进行验证,结果表明：Z向纤维间距及X,Y向纤维层间距越小,预制体纤维含量越高;Z向纤维间距越大,纤维交织处扭曲变形大,预制体孔隙结构发生变化;相同致密化工艺下,孔隙结构的变化影响C/C复合材料中基体碳的组成和分布,对基体碳形貌无影响;X,Y向纤维含量越高,Z向纤维间距越小,致密后的C/C复合材料弯曲强度越高。     

Hybrid composites made of carbon and glass woven fabrics under quasi-static loading

Experimental studies are presented on in-plane mechanical properties for two types of hybrid composites made using 8H satin weave T300 carbon fabrics and plain weave E-glass fabrics with epoxy resin. Results are also presented for 8H satin weave T300 carbon/epoxy and plain weave E-glass/epoxy. Studies are carried out under both tensile and compressive in-plane quasi-static loading. It is observed that for hybrid composites, placing glass fabric layers in the exterior and carbon fabric layers in the interior gives higher tensile strength and ultimate tensile strain than placing carbon fabric layers in the exterior and glass fabric layers in the interior. Quantitative data is given for different mechanical properties.     

相容剂对长玻纤增强热塑性聚氨酯弹性体/聚乳酸复合材料性能的影响

采用熔体浸渍工艺制备长玻纤增强热塑性聚氨酯弹性体(TPU)/聚乳酸(PLA)复合材料;以苯乙烯-丙烯腈接枝甲基丙烯酸缩水甘油酯(SAG)作为相容剂,热塑性弹性体聚氨酯作为增韧剂,聚乳酸为基体树脂,考察苯乙烯-丙烯腈接枝甲基丙烯酸缩水甘油酯用量对长玻璃纤维增强聚TPU/PLA复合材料性能的影响。结果表明,加入苯乙烯-丙烯腈接枝甲基丙烯酸缩水甘油酯能改善长玻璃纤维增强聚TPU/PLA复合材料的相容性;长玻璃纤维增强聚TPU/PLA复合材料的拉伸强度、缺口冲击强度、弯曲强度和模量等力学性能及储能模量随着苯乙烯-丙烯腈接枝甲基丙烯酸缩水甘油酯用量的增加呈先增加后降低的趋势,而长玻璃纤维增强聚TPU/PLA复合材料的损耗因子则随苯乙烯-丙烯腈接枝甲基丙烯酸缩水甘油酯含量的增加呈现降低后增加的趋势;通过复合材料的形态分析表明,加入相容剂的复合材料中玻璃纤维与基体树脂界面强度增加,且玻璃纤维表面有一层包覆的树脂基体;通过分析得出,当相容剂添加量为6%时,长玻璃纤维增强聚TPU/PLA复合材料的拉伸强度、弯曲强度和模量、缺口冲击强度等力学性能最优。     

Study of the infiltration and mechanical behavior of C/C composites prepared by ECVI

Three kinds of preforms, chopped fibers/resin carbon, spreading layers of carbon cloth, and needle-pricked long fiber felt, were used in this study. The preforms were densified by using the electrified preform heating CVI method (ECVI), and infiltrated using natural gas. Initial thermal gradients were determined. Resistivity and density evolutions with infiltration time have been recorded. A tensile test was applied to investigate the influence of preform architecture on the tensile properties of the C/C composites. Results show that the architecture of preform strongly influences the uniformity of infiltration and fibers/matrix bonding. The samples prepared from using 1K plain carbon cloth have the smallest density variations with position (about 0.011 g/cm³), and possess the highest tensile strength and modulus, while the samples produced from chopped fibers/resin carbon possess the lowest tensile strength due to their strong interfacial bonding between resin carbon and carbon fibers and poor microstructure.     

Mechanical properties of palmyra/glass fiber hybrid composites

Use of eco friendly composites gains attraction due to its lightweight and moderate strength in the recent years. Palmyra fiber is a natural fiber obtained from Palmyra (Borassus flabellifer) tree. Mechanical properties of randomly mixed short fiber composites are studied and optimum fiber length and wt% are estimated. This paper deals with the properties of (randomly mixed) palmyra fiber, glass fiber hybrid composites. Two types of specimens are prepared, one by mixing the palmyra and glass fiber and the other by sandwiching palmyra fiber between the glass fiber mats. Composite plates are prepared for different palmyra/glass fiber weight ratio. Rooflite resin is used as matrix. Tensile, impact, shear and bending properties are studied. The mechanical properties of the composites are improved due to the addition of glass fiber along with palmyra fiber in the matrix. The glass fiber skin–palmyra fiber core construction exhibits better mechanical properties than dispersed construction. Moisture absorption studies are conducted and the results are presented as a function of square root of time. Addition of glass fiber with palmyra fiber in the matrix decreases the moisture absorption of the composites.     

磨碎玻璃纤维增强环氧树脂复合材料的制备及力学性能研究

用硅烷偶联剂对磨碎玻璃纤维表面进行改性,并制备玻璃纤维/环氧树脂复合材料,采用超声分散对复合材料分散处理,探讨不同磨碎玻璃纤维粉质量比对环氧树脂基复合材料压缩、拉伸性能的影响。研究表明,添加磨碎玻璃纤维后,环氧树脂的强度和硬度显著增强。当磨碎玻璃纤维掺量在15%~25%之间时,复合材料的综合力学性能最好,其压缩强度、压缩模量、拉伸强度最高达到67.1 MPa、1.68 GPa、57.6 MPa,与纯环氧树脂相比提高了24%、35%、34%;断裂伸长率随着掺量的增加逐渐降低,当含量达到30%时比纯环氧树脂的降低了48%,表明添加玻璃纤维粉后环氧树脂脆性增强。目数小粒径较大的玻璃纤维粉对环氧树脂力学性能增强效果更优,但影响程度不如含量对复合材料力学性能的影响大。     

Characterization of a novel natural cellulose fabric from Manicaria saccifera palm as possible reinforcement of composite materials

Identifying novel natural fibers/fabrics with proper properties as reinforcement material is a new challenge in the field of bio-composites. Hence, the aim of this paper is to study the possibility of using a natural fabric extracted from Manicaria saccifera palm as a novel reinforcement in composites. This fabric was extensively characterized by chemical composition analysis, infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, morphological studies (SEM), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and physical /mechanical properties studies. From SEM analysis it was identified globular protrusions spread uniformly over the fiber which could help the mechanical interlock with the resin. As well, Manicaria fabric showed good thermal stability, low density, low moisture content and good tensile properties. Further, their properties are comparable to most natural cellulose fabrics and some synthetic fabrics, such as fiber glass fabrics. Manciaria saccifera fabric showed to be a suitable candidate as natural reinforcement material for the development of bio- composite.