CCM 97-11 Abstract
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CCM 97-11
Ultraviolet Curing of a GFRP Composite Based on Vinyl Ester
Z. Z. Wong and J. W. Gillespie, Jr.
keywords: UV curing, vinyl-ester composite, GFRP composite, fiber placement, thermoset composite
Fiber placement technology is an innovative automated process for fabricating advanced composite structures, usually at substantially reduced cost. Having evolved from the traditional filament winding and tape-laying processes fiber placement is more versatile than either filament winding or tape laying. It offers the ability to place material on convex as well as concave surfaces, unlike filament winding. It is also more versatile than tape laying since a multi-axis system can be used to follow complex shaped parts and tow cut/add capability can be used to tailor layups finely. In the long term, high throughputs and in-situ continuous processing (without expensive secondary processes like autoclaving) lower costs without compromising quality. The potential of human error in manual layup is also minimized. So far, the vast potential of fiber placement technology in manufacturing has been tapped in applications such as fighter aircraft structures, helicopters and smart structures. Expansion of the capabilities and versatility of fiber placement would broaden the scope of its applications. A possible route to such expansion is via the incorporation of alternative curing methods into fiber placement technology. The application of heat and pressure in current fiber placement processes works well for thermoplastics materials but is more tricky for implementation with thermoset resins, since the previously laid layer might not melt and fuse well with the incoming resin. Electron beam curing, radiation curing and ultraviolet curing are some of the potentially feasible alternatives to thermal curing. This report investigates UV curing of a graphite/vinyl ester composite.
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