Dr.

Yiping Qiu

Composite Manufacturing Processes

Thermoset composites
Short fiber reinforced
Continuous fiber reinforced
Prepreg
resin transfer

Thermoplastic composites
Commingle
Impregnated

Composite Manufacturing Processes

Processes:
Hand Lay-up
Pre-preg forming
Pressure molding
Vacuum bagging
Filament winding

Composite Manufacturing Processes

Processes:
Pultrusion
Spray method
Sheet molding
Bulk molding
Resin transfer molding

Hand lay-up

Hand lay-up
Advantages:
low cost tools
versatile: wide range of products

Disadvantages:
time consuming
easy to form air bubbles and disorientation of

fibers
inconsistency

Prepreg forming
Machine

Prepreg forming

Prepreg forming
Advantages:
orientation of fibers can be changed
consistent
high productivity

Disadvantages:
continuous process needs more

customers
limited shelf life
delamination

Prepreg forming

Pressure molding

Pressure molding
Advantages:
wide range of shapes
integrate parts
consistency

stability
relatively simple
structural

Disadvantages:
high cost of machine
time consuming to heat up, cool down and curing
expensive molds (strong materials required)
no intricate parts
large volume of products

Vacuum bagging
Process

Vacuum bagging
Advantages:
simple design
any fiber/matrix combination
ok with cheap mold material
better quality for the cost

Disadvantages:
cannot be heated up too much
breeder clothe has to be replaced frequently
low pressure (760 mm Hg the most)
slowest speed
inconsistency

Filament winding

Filament winding

Filament winding

Filament winding
products
Compressed air tanks
High-pressure CO2 tanks and bottles
Water softener systems
Rescue air tanks
Sail boat masts
Compressed Natural Gas tanks
Defense/Aerospace systems
Lightpoles

Filament winding
Advantages:
using existing textile processes.
quick, easy to handle package.
parts can have huge size.
Disadvantages:
spinning speed is limited due to resin
penetration and splashing, traveler speed
and yarn breakage.
curing by heat is not easy to apply.
shape of the products limited (only
cylindrical possible).

Pultrusion

Pultrusion

Pultrusion
Advantages:
Automated processes.
High speed.
Versatile cross-sectional shape.
Continuous reinforcement.

Disadvantages:
Die can be easily messed up.
Expensive die.
Mainly thermoset matrix.

Spray method

Spray method
Advantages:
Continuous process
Any materials can be used as mold.
Error can be corrected by re-spraying.
Disadvantages:
Slow.
inconsistency.
No control of fiber orientation.
Only one side finished.
Environmental unfriendly.

Sheet molding

Sheet molding
Advantages
High productivity thus inexpensive
consistency

Disadvantages
low volume fraction.
Only board can be made.

Bulk molding

Bulk molding
Advantages
Highest volume fraction for short fiber
reinforced composites (50%)
Good mechanical properties
Finish can be applied
Inserts and attachments possible
Disadvantages
High temperature and high pressure
Random fiber orientation
Cannot be used for intricate parts
Staple fibers only.

Resin transfer molding

http://www.plastech.co.uk/Mtrtm.html

Resin transfer molding

Advantages

Components will have good surface finish on both sides

Selective reinforcement and accurate fiber management is achievable
Ability to build-in fiber volume fraction loadings up to 65%
Uniformity of thickness and fiber loading, uniform shrinkage
Inserts may be incorporated into moldings
Tooling costs comparatively low
Uses only low pressure injection
Low volatile emission during processing
Ability to produce near net shape moldings
Process can be automated, resulting in higher production rates
Ability to mould complex structural and hollow shapes
Low resultant voids
Ability to achieve from 0.5mm to 90mm laminate thickness
Disadvantages
waste some material (spill)
curing time long
hard for intricate parts

Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer

Molding
http://www.futuremediacreations.com/technoi

re/vartm.htm

Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer

Molding
Advantages?

Disadvantages?

Filament Placement