Tooling Concepts for Quality Improvement of Composite Panels
J. Sinke – Mentor (TU Delft - Group Sinke)
S. van der Zwaag – Mentor (TU Delft - Group Garcia Espallargas)
R.C. Alderliesten – Mentor (TU Delft - Group Alderliesten)
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Abstract
The scope of this thesis is to develop new tooling concepts and production techniques to improve the quality of composite skin panels. The research focuses on closed mould manufacturing techniques using solid-solid and solid-flexible tool sets. Subsequently the project introduces prepreg/resin infusion concept as an additional way to reduce manufacturing defects like voids and porosities in the composite panels. The closed mould tool setup was optimized with repeatable tests for both tooling sets. The composite laminates produced had no visible defects like fiber flow-out and wrinkles on the surface. The panels produced with both tooling sets were mechanically tested for inter laminar shear strength and the cross-sections were analyzed under optical microscope to determine the void content. The prepreg/resin infusion technique was used with the developed mould setup as an attempt to eliminate voids in the produced laminates. However, the attempt was not successful due to different processing temperatures of liquid resin and prepreg material used in the project. Therefore, it is recommended to use both prepreg and liquid resin with similar chemical and processing conditions. Furthermore, it is advised more research has to be conducted for improving infusion concepts with the closed mould tool setup used in this project.