Optimization of cure kinetics parameter estimation for structural reaction injection molding/resin transfer molding

Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) is an advanced process to manufacture high quality thermoset polymeric composites. The quality of the composite depends on the resin infusion stage and the cure stage during the RTM process. The resin curing is a complex exothermic process which involves resin mechanical property evolution, resin volume shrinkage, thermal expansion, heat transfer, and chemical reaction. Since the fibers and resin have many differences in their physical properties, the composite cure stage inevitably introduces the undesired residual stress to the composite parts. As the residual stress could sometimes generate local matrix failure or degrade the performance of the composite, it is important to model and minimize the residual stress. This paper presents a model to predict the residual stress development during the composite cure process. By slightly disturbing the manufacturing parameters such as the mold heating cycle and the cure kinetics of polymer, the variations of residual stress development during the RTM process can be modeled and compared. A parametric uncertainty study of the residual stress development in the polymeric composite manufactured with RTM will be performed and discussed.

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Parameter estimation for resin transfer molding

Engineering Computations ◽

10.1108/02644400110409186 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 18 (8) ◽

pp. 1091-1107 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Vojin Jovanovic ◽

Souran Manoochehri ◽

Constantin Chassapis

Keyword(s):

Parameter Estimation ◽

Resin Transfer Molding ◽

Transfer Molding

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A Numerical Study of Integrated Direct Cure Kinetics Characterization and Control for Resin Transfer Molding (RTM)

Materials ◽

10.1115/imece2005-80669 ◽

2005 ◽

Author(s):

Kuang-Ting Hsiao

Keyword(s):

Control System ◽

Numerical Study ◽

Resin Transfer Molding ◽

Cure Kinetics ◽

Mold Temperature ◽

Fiber Preform ◽

Transfer Molding ◽

Cure Cycle ◽

Numerical Case Study

In Resin Transfer Molding (RTM), the fiber preform is first placed inside a mold cavity and is subsequently impregnated with liquid resin. After mold filling, the resin starts to cure and bind the fiber preform into a solid composite part. The cure cycle will affect the residual stress built during RTM and must be controlled. Traditionally, the cure cycle control is achieved through three steps: offline resin cure kinetics characterization, offline cure cycle optimization, and mold temperature control. Different from other traditional cure cycle control approaches, this paper presents an investigation to achieve an integrated cure kinetics characterization-control system by combining a newly developed direct cure kinetics characterization method with online cure cycle optimization. A methodology to seamlessly combine these components for a practicable online cure characterization-control system will be presented and demonstrated by a numerical case study. The accuracy and reliability of this methodology will be examined and discussed based on the results of the numerical case study.

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Modeling of structural reaction injection molding process. I. Mathematical model

Polymer Engineering & Science ◽

10.1002/pen.10782 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 41 (5) ◽

pp. 850-857 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Alexander Ya. Malkin ◽

Victor V. Kuznetsov ◽

Ingo Kleba ◽

Walter Michaeli

Keyword(s):

Mathematical Model ◽

Injection Molding ◽

Injection Molding Process ◽

Molding Process ◽

Reaction Injection Molding ◽

Structural Reaction Injection Molding

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