复合材料变厚层板热压成型缺陷类型与成因实验研究

采用热压机工艺与热压罐工艺两种成型方法制备了玻璃纤维/环氧 648 变厚度层板 , 研究了两种工艺下缺陷的形成机制及铺层方式和变厚梯度对缺陷程度和分布的影响。结果表明 : 纤维分布不均、 富树脂、 分层是主要缺陷类型 , 其中纤维分布不均由树脂二维流动引起 , 并与纤维不连续区、 纤维层渗透特性以及外压的均匀性有关; 富树脂主要是纤维的不连续性造成的 ; 而分层缺陷与纤维分布和热膨胀各向异性紧密相关。研究结果对变厚度复合材料层板的缺陷消除和成型质量控制有重要的指导意义。      

复合材料层板热压工艺参数的分析与优化

在热固性树脂基复合材料热压成型过程中,外加压力和加压时机是决定层板厚度、纤维含量以及孔隙含量的两个主要因素.基于复合材料热压成型过程树脂流动模型,采用遗传算法,根据固化层板纤维体积分数的要求,对单向和正交两种铺层形式的T700/5228和T700/5224层板加压时机进行了分析.以航空航天应用的典型纤维含量为准,对优化得到的加压时机以及不同工艺条件下固化层板内纤维分布特点进行了分析.结果表明,纤维、树脂种类相同,铺层方式不同,加压时机差别很大;纤维种类、铺层方式以及初始和优化目标相同的条件下,不同树脂体系,加压时刻树脂粘度基本相同;层板内纤维分布均匀性主要由纤维层压缩特性决定.采用本文建立优化方法,可以快速地得到满足目标纤维含量要求的加压时机,具有重要的学术价值和工程应用意义,有助于降低成本,缩短复合材料研制周期.     

变厚度复合材料热压罐工艺层板厚度控制的实验研究

针对2种碳纤维织物/环氧预浸料,采用热压罐工艺在不同条件下制备了变厚度层板,并通过层板内部形貌、层板厚度、纤维含量、吸胶量、织物渗透率的测试分析,研究了变厚度层板的密实过程和纤维分布的影响因素。结果表明：密实过程中树脂的二维流动导致2种织物变厚度层板厚板区的纤维含量高于薄板区;G0827单向织物的面内渗透率与厚度方向渗透率比值大于G0803缎纹织物,造成G0827织物变厚度层板的纤维分布不均匀性更大;无吸胶材料的条件下层板内纤维分布均匀,说明吸胶材料内树脂的面内流动对层板的纤维分布有很大影响。     

复合材料等厚层板热压成型中树脂流动过程数值模拟

树脂基复合材料热压成型过程中树脂流动在很大程度上决定着层板纤维含量、 孔隙含量以及层板尺寸 , 根据有效应力原理与达西渗流定律建立了描述复合材料等厚层板热压成型过程树脂流动与纤维密实的数学模型 , 采用有限单元方法实现了热压成型中纤维密实均匀状况的预报。分析了温度边界条件、 铺层方式对树脂流动过程的影响。结果表明: 温度边界条件对计算结果影响比较大 ; 铺层方式对层板厚度以及纤维体积分数分布规律影响非常大 ; 边界条件以及材料参数的准确性直接影响计算结果的可靠性。以 T700S/环氧 5228单向层板为例进行了实验验证 , 结果表明计算与实验结果的一致性非常好。      

L 形复合材料层板热压工艺密实变形过程的数值模拟

基于 Biot 固结原理和达西定律 , 建立了二维树脂流动与纤维密实模型 , 采用有限元方法实现了 L 形层板热压成型过程树脂压力分布、 层板变形的预测。通过对 AS4 炭纤维/环氧 350126 等厚层板厚度变化的模拟结果与实验数据的对比分析 , 证明了数学模型和有限元程序的可靠性。以阳模成型 90° 铺层 S22玻璃纤维/环氧 648L 形层板为例 , 对工艺过程层板厚度变化进行了分析。模拟结果表明 : 剪切模量对拐角以及拐角与平板过渡区域的变形影响较大 ; 平板长度对拐角区域变形影响较明显 , 对平板区的变形影响较小。采用热压罐制备了 90° 铺层S22玻璃纤维/环氧 648阳模成型 L 形层板 , 实验数据表明 , 固化后层板呈现拐角区厚、 平板区薄的厚度不均现象 , 并且平板长度对拐角区厚度变化影响较显著 , 这与数值预测结果具有较好的一致性。     

热压罐零吸胶工艺树脂压力在线测试及其变化规律

针对碳纤维缎纹布/环氧914预浸料热压罐零吸胶工艺,采用热压成型过程树脂压力在线测试系统监测树脂压力的大小与分布,分析了真空、外加气压对树脂压力的作用规律,通过显微观察研究了真空及外加气压对孔隙缺陷的影响。实验结果表明,所采用的在线测试系统可以定量分析真空在铺层内的作用程度和树脂压力的变化;零吸胶工艺树脂承担了大部分外压且沿层板厚度及面内方向分布均匀;真空通过铺层内的气路通道排出夹杂空气,其作用程度受到树脂黏流状态和铺层密实程度的影响;不同压力条件下复合材料层板孔隙状况与树脂压力的测试结果相吻合。     

硅橡胶热膨胀工艺预浸料铺层内树脂压力变化规律

采用硅橡胶热膨胀工艺制备了碳纤维/双马树脂复合材料层板, 通过自行设计的成型模具及树脂压力在线测试系统测试并分析了成型过程中热胀压力和预浸料铺层内树脂压力的变化规律, 考察了工艺间隙和温度分布的影响, 并通过显微观察分析了不同工艺条件下层板的密实状况。结果表明: 采用树脂压力在线测试系统, 可实现热膨胀工艺预浸料铺层内树脂压力的测试; 工艺间隙和硅橡胶内的温度分布对树脂压力及硅橡胶的热胀压力有重要影响, 在零吸胶工艺条件下, 当工艺间隙设计合理时, 凝胶前热胀压力和树脂压力的变化趋势及变化程度基本一致, 固化层板纤维密实并且厚度均匀; 通过增加恒温平台减小硅橡胶内部温差, 可使热胀压力的增加速度减小。      

采用薄膜传感器的树脂基复合材料热压罐工艺密实压力测试方法

针对树脂基复合材料层板热压罐成型工艺,采用薄膜压力传感器建立了密实压力在线测试系统,用于监测成型过程中复合材料所受密实压力的大小和分布。研究了密实压力测试系统在热压罐工艺条件下的适用性,在此基础上以该系统为测试手段,研究了热压罐工艺下L形碳纤维/环氧树脂复合材料层板的密实压力变化规律及模具形式的影响。结果表明: 所建立的密实压力测试系统具有较高的准确性和动态响应性,能够测试高温条件及曲面位置的密实压力,满足复合材料热压罐成型过程中密实压力的在线测试要求; L形复合材料层板成型过程中拐角区与平板区的密实压力随热压罐压力增大而增加,但增加速度和最终大小不同,阳模成型时拐角区密实压力高于平板区,阴模成型时拐角区密实压力小于平板区和外加压力,表明曲面结构与平板结构的密实行为具有差异性。     

碳纳米管-玻璃纤维/环氧层板双真空灌注工艺及性能

针对碳纳米管(CNT)-玻璃纤维/环氧树脂体系, 采用传统的真空灌注工艺(VARIM)和双真空灌注工艺(DVARIM)制备复合材料层板, 分析了不同工艺方法下层板缺陷状况, 测试了层板的弯曲性能和层间剪切性能, 并结合树脂性能和纤维/树脂界面粘结状况观察, 探讨了DVARIM对CNT分布的影响及碳管的增强机制。结果表明: 与传统的VARIM相比, DVARIM能增加纤维的间距, 提高树脂对纤维的浸润能力, 减小纤维束内的孔隙缺陷; 添加质量分数为0.05％的酸化CNT后层板性能提高, 而且采用DVARIM性能提高更明显; 不同灌注工艺对CNT的分布产生影响, 从而改变了CNT对纤维/树脂界面粘接的影响, 同时这种影响与织物结构的紧密程度有关。      

T形加筋板热压罐成型过程压力分布与树脂流动实验研究

针对飞行器复合材料常用加筋板结构,采用胶接共固化整体工艺成型T形加筋板。采用自行建立的压力测试方法测试了 T形加筋板在热压罐成型过程的压力分布,通过吸胶量、筋条厚度的检测,分析了树脂在筋条内的流动形式,研究了树脂流动的影响因素及影响规律。结果表明：筋条不同部位明显存在压力分布不均,在压力差作用下树脂发生明显的面内流动,易产生富脂、厚度不均等缺陷,导致筋条拐角较厚,约是突缘和腹板厚度的1.1~1.4倍,模具组合方案、曲率半径、填充料含量明显影响树脂面内流动和纤维密实程度。     

Effects of Processing Parameters on the Forming Quality of C-Shaped Thermosetting Composite Laminates in Hot Diaphragm Forming Process

In this study, the effects of processing temperature and vacuum applying rate on the forming quality of C-shaped carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin matrix composite laminates during hot diaphragm forming process were investigated. C-shaped prepreg preforms were produced using a home-made hot diaphragm forming equipment. The thickness variations of the preforms and the manufacturing defects after diaphragm forming process, including fiber wrinkling and voids, were evaluated to understand the forming mechanism. Furthermore, both interlaminar slipping friction and compaction behavior of the prepreg stacks were experimentally analyzed for showing the importance of the processing parameters. In addition, autoclave processing was used to cure the C-shaped preforms to investigate the changes of the defects before and after cure process. The results show that the C-shaped prepreg preforms with good forming quality can be achieved through increasing processing temperature and reducing vacuum applying rate, which obviously promote prepreg interlaminar slipping process. The process temperature and forming rate in hot diaphragm forming process strongly influence prepreg interply frictional force, and the maximum interlaminar frictional force can be taken as a key parameter for processing parameter optimization. Autoclave process is effective in eliminating voids in the preforms and can alleviate fiber wrinkles to a certain extent.     

热压工艺参数对单向复合材料层板密实状态的影响

为了提高复合材料的质量稳定性并降低成本, 需要研究纤维密实状态的变化规律及其影响因素。采用密实指数I_c表征单向复合材料层板中纤维的密实程度, 进而研究了热压工艺下压力、加压时机及铺层层数对密实指数的影响规律。结果表明, 密实指数随压力的增大呈非线性增大, 随加压点树脂粘度的增大而减小, 随铺层层数的增大呈线性减小。该研究结果为优化热压成型工艺窗口和短程流动模型的建立提供了重要的实验依据。      

Numerical and Experimental Study of the Bleeder Flow in Autoclave Process

In the autoclave process, resin flow is a primary mechanics for the removing of excess resin and voids entrapped in the laminate and obtaining a uniform and void free composite part. A numerical method was developed to simulate the resin flow in the laminate and the bleeder, and the effects of ‘bleeder flow’ on the resin flow and fiber compaction were conducted. At the same time, fiber distribution in the cured laminates was investigated by both experiments and simulations for the CF/Epoxy and CF/BMI composites. The data of the experiments and simulations demonstrated that fibers consolidated and reconsolidated in the laminate and it was impacted by the viscosity and gel time of the resin system. Compared to the post study in which only resin flow in the laminate are considered, these results will deepen the understanding of the consolidation process, resin pressure variation and void control during the autoclave process, which is valuable for the study of the performance of composite parts, provided that fiber distribution does affect some properties of composite material.     

3-D stamp forming of thermoplastic matrix composites

In this investigation a mould with hemispherical cavity and 80 kN hydraulic press, allowing variable stamping speeds, are employed for experimentally studying of the 3-D stamp forming process of continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic laminates. In particular, glass fiber (GF) reinforced polyetherimide (PEI) woven fabric made of sheath surrounded, polymer powder impregnated fiber bundles manufactured by Enichem, Italy, is used. Pre-consolidated laminates are heated by contact heating in an external heater up to about 120°C above the glass transition temperature (T _g) of the polymer matrix; they are then stamp formed in a cold matched metal tool. Typical cycle times (including preheating time of the preconsolidated laminates) are in the range of 3 min. Useful processing conditions, such as stamping temperature, stamping velocity and hold-down pressure required for stamp forming of this composite are determined. In addition the effect of die geometries (deformation radian) and original laminate dimensions are studied. The results describe the correlations between processing parameters and fiber buckling. Finally the thickness distribution in stamped parts are investigated in relation to different directions of fiber orientation.     

Numerical and Experimental Study on the Effect of Lay-Up Type and Structural Elements on Thickness Uniformity of L-Shaped Laminates

Based on the two-dimensional resin flow and fiber compaction model developed by our group, we studied the cured laminate thickness uniformity of the L-shaped CF/BMI resin laminates and the effects of lay-up type and structural elements on it. Both the simulated and experimental data showed that the quasi-isotropic laminate thickness was more uniform than that of the [90°]_n laminates and the cured thickness of laminates molded by rigid convex tool was more uniform than that molded by the rigid concave tool. Lay-up type has a great influence on the cured laminate thickness uniformity. For the quasi-isotropic laminates, the structural elements, such as curvature radius, flat part length, and the number of plies, did not have much influence on the cured laminate thickness uniformity in the studied scope. For the [90°]_n laminates, the corner radius has a larger effect on the corner consolidation in comparison with the flat part length and the number of plies. According to the simulated results, resin pressure and consolidation time were largely affected by the lay-up type, due to the different permeability and compressibility. The rich resin defect was observed in the metallographic photos of the corner region of the [90°]_n laminates fabricated with the rigid concave tool, which demonstrated that the resin flow in the laminates played an important rule and validated the numerical prediction. Good agreement between the simulated results and experimental data demonstrated the reliability and universality of the numerical simulation method. These results are greatly helpful for the control of defects in angle-bended laminates and the optimization of cure cycle in autoclave process.     

Coupled visco-mechanical and diffusion void growth modelling during composite curing

Most critical processing step during long fiber reinforced epoxy matrix composite laminate manufacturing is the polymerization stage. If not optimized, it gives birth to defects in the bulk material, such as voids. These defects are considered as possible sources of damage in the composite parts. The aim of this work is to model the evolution of void growth in thermoset composite laminates after ply collation (autoclave processes) or resin impregnation (RTM, LCM process). A coupled mechanical and diffusion model is presented to better predict the final void size at the end of polymerization. Amongst the parameter investigated, onset of pressure application and diffusive species concentration where found to have a major effect on void size evolution during curing process.