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Abstract

Preform engineering aspects and tailored reinforcements are solely related to liquid composite molding (LCM) process (Mitschang, P., Ogale, A., Schlimbach, J., Weyrauch, F. and Weimer, C. (2003). Preform Technology: A Necessary Requirement for Quality Controlled LCM-Processes, Polym. & Polym. Compos., 8(11): 605—622; Weimer, C. and Mitschang, P. (2002). Continuous Manufacturing of Tailored Reinforcements for Liquid Infusion Processes Based on Stitching Technologies, In: Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Flow Processes in Composite Materials, Auckland, New Zealand). In order to reduce the process time to manufacture fiber reinforced polymer composites (FRPC), it is essential to reduce tool loading time. Utility cost, forces acting on the preform geometry during the LCM process, stitch pattern, and stitch formation have to be taken into consideration. Sewn preform geometries have its own compression properties and therefore behaves differently in terms of processing and mechanical performance. To understand this relationship, it is essential to relate sewing parameters with the LCM processing parameters. The current work is based on the experimental analysis of preforms with three different sewing parameters: thread tension, presser-foot height, and stitch density. Thread tension and presser-foot pressure causes considerable changes in the compaction behavior of the preform. The stitching density which causes locking of the fiber bundle, influences the compaction phenomenon together with the thread tension and foot pressure. It is essential that stitches and stitching parameters required to be designed according to tool loading practices, compaction situations, and required final fiber volume fraction (Vf).

Keywords

preform stitching fiber reinforced polymer composites compaction.

References

Mitschang, P. , Ogale, A. , Schlimbach, J. , Weyrauch, F. and Weimer C. (2003). Preform Technology: A Necessary Requirement for Quality Controlled LCM-Processes, Polym. & Polym. Compos., 8 (11): 605—622.

Weimer, C. and Mitschang, P. (2002). Continuous Manufacturing of Tailored Reinforcements for Liquid Infusion Processes based on Stitching Technologies, In: Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Flow Processes in Composite Materials, Auckland, New Zealand.

Schlimbach, J. , Weimer, C. and Mitschang, P. (2002). Kostenanalyse der RTM-Fertigung — Effekt durch den Einsatz eines innovativen und flexiblen Preformverfahrens, In: Proceedings of AVK-TV Workshop, Baden-Baden, Germany, B9-1-8.

Weimer, C. and Mitschang, P. (2001). Aspects of Stitch Formation Process on the Quality of Sewn Multi-textile-preforms, Compos. A, 32: 1477—1484.

Mitschang,P. and Ogale, A. (2005).Manufacturing of Tailored Reinforcement for Liquid Composite Molding Processes, In: Friedrich, K. , Fakirov, S. and Zhang, Z. (eds). Polymer Composites — from Nano- to Macro-scale, pp. 215—232.

Ogale, A. , Floeck, M. , Stadtfeld, H.C. , Mitschang, P. and Bickerton, S. (2004). Influences of the Sewing Process on the Compaction Behavior of Fibrous Preforms, In: Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Flow Processes in Composite Materials , Delaware, USA.

Chen, B. and Chou, T.-W. (1999). Compaction of Woven Fabric Preforms in Liquid Composite Molding Process: Single Layer Deformation, Compos. Sci. Technol., 59: 1519—1526.

Chen, B. and Chou, T.-W. (2000). Compaction of Woven Fabric Preforms in Liquid Composite Molding Process: Nesting and Multiplayer Deformation, Compos. Sci. Technol., 60: 2223—2231.

Chen, B. , Cheng, A.H.-D. and Chou, T.-W. (2001). A Nonlinear Compaction Model for Fibrous Preforms , Compos. A, 32: 701—707.

10.

Grimsley, B.W. , Hubert, P. , Song, X. , Cano, R.J. , Loos, A.C. and Pipes, R.B. (2001). Flow and Compaction during the Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding Process, http://techreports.larc.nasa.gov/ltrs/PDF/2001/mtg/NASA-2001-33sampe-bwg2.pdf (accessed on 12.08.2003).

11.

Bickerton, S. , Stadtfeld, H.C. and Mitschang , P. (2003). Modeling Tooling Forces Generated during the Resin Transfer Molding Process , In: Proceedings of 24th International SAMPE Europe Conference, pp. 693—701, Paris.

12.

Mouritz, A.P. and Cox, B.N. (2000). A Mechanistic Approach to the Properties of Stitched Laminates, Compos. A, 31: 1—27.

Compaction Behavior of Assembled Fiber Reinforced Preforms

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