scholarly journals A Review of Thermoplastic Resin Transfer Molding: Process Modeling and Simulation

Polymers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ageyeva ◽  
Sibikin ◽  
Kovács
Keyword(s):  
Polymer Composites ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Resin Transfer Molding ◽  
High Viscosity ◽  
Commercial Application ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Thermoplastic Resin ◽  
Molding Process ◽  
Transfer Molding ◽  
The Matrix

The production and consumption of polymer composites has grown continuously through recent decades and has topped 10 Mt/year. Until very recently, polymer composites almost exclusively had non-recyclable thermoset matrices. The growing amount of plastic, however, inevitably raises the issue of recycling and reuse. Therefore, recyclability has become of paramount importance in the composites industry. As a result, thermoplastics are coming to the forefront. Despite all their advantages, thermoplastics are difficult to use as the matrix of high-performance composites because their high viscosity complicates the impregnation process. A solution could be reactive thermoplastics, such as PA-6, which is synthesized from the ε-caprolactam (ε-CL) monomer via anionic ring opening polymerization (AROP). One of the fastest techniques to process PA-6 into advanced composites is thermoplastic resin transfer molding (T-RTM). Although nowadays T-RTM is close to commercial application, its optimization and control need further research and development, mainly assisted by modeling. This review summarizes recent progress in the modeling of the different aspects of the AROP of ε-CL. It covers the mathematical modeling of reaction kinetics, pressure-volume-temperature behavior, as well as simulation tools and approaches. Based on the research results so far, this review presents the current trends and could even plot the course for future research.

scholarly journals A Conceptional Approach of Resin-Transfer-Molding to Rosin-Sourced Epoxy Matrix Green Composites

Aerospace ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Sicong Yu ◽  
Xufeng Zhang ◽  
Xiaoling Liu ◽  
Chris Rudd ◽  
Xiaosu Yi
Keyword(s):  
Composite Laminates ◽  
Resin Transfer Molding ◽  
High Viscosity ◽  
Ramie Fiber ◽  
Liquid Composite Molding ◽  
Curing Agent ◽  
Molding Process ◽  
Transfer Molding ◽  
Low Viscosity ◽  
Composite Molding

In this concept-proof study, a preform-based RTM (Resin Transfer Molding) process is presented that is characterized by first pre-loading the solid curing agent onto the preform, and then injecting the liquid nonreactive resin with an intrinsically low viscosity into the mold to infiltrate and wet the pre-loaded preform. The separation of resin and hardener helped to process inherently high viscosity resins in a convenient way. Rosin-sourced, anhydrite-cured epoxies that would normally be regarded as unsuited to liquid composite molding, were thus processed. Rheological tests revealed that by separating the anhydrite curing agent from a formulated RTM resin system, the remaining epoxy liquid had its flowtime extended. C-scan and glass transition temperature tests showed that the preform pre-loaded with anhydrite was fully infiltrated and wetted by the liquid epoxy, and the two components were diffused and dissolved with each other, and finally, well reacted and cured. Composite laminates made via this approach exhibited roughly comparable quality and mechanical properties with prepreg controls via autoclave or compression molding, respectively. These findings were verified for both carbon and ramie fiber composites.

High-performance bismaleimide resins with low cure temperature for resin transfer molding process

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 298-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping Liu ◽  
Chunyan Qu ◽  
Dezhi Wang ◽  
Ming Zhao ◽  
Changwei Liu
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Resin Transfer Molding ◽  
Molding Process ◽  
Transfer Molding ◽  
Bismaleimide Resins ◽  
Cure Temperature

Effects of Graphene on a Resin Transfer Molding Process Using Bisphenol A Based Epoxy Resin

2010 ◽  
Vol 123-125 ◽  
pp. 535-538
Author(s):  
Huu Hieu Nguyen ◽  
Dae Woo Lee ◽  
Quang Trung Troung ◽  
Seong Woo Yun ◽  
Chi Hoon Choi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bisphenol A ◽  
Epoxy Resin ◽  
Polymer Composites ◽  
Epoxy Resins ◽  
Resin Transfer Molding ◽  
Analysis Tool ◽  
Molding Process ◽  
Liquid Resin ◽  
Transfer Molding ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis

Resin transfer molding is a popular process to fabricate polymer composites reinforced with a large amount of glass or carbon fibers. In general, fiber reinforcements are put in a mold, and a liquid resin such as epoxy resin is injected into the mold after preheating. For successful production of polymer composites via a resin transfer molding process, the filling and curing stages of the liquid resin as well as the mold design should be optimized. Recently, polymer composites reinforced with nanoparticles are attracting attention of researchers in academia and industries because efficient reinforcement can be achieved by small loading of nanoparticles such as carbon nanotubes and exfoliated clays. In this work, as an effort to develop light weight automotive parts, graphenes were investigated as a nano size reinforcement of epoxy resin for resin transfer molding. Graphenes were prepared from graphites by microwave irradiation. Addition of graphenes to bisphenol A based epoxy resins such as YD-128 from Kukdo Chemical results in an increase in viscosity and shear thinning behavior, affecting the filling process. The curing of epoxy resins is also affected by graphenes. In order to develop a model for simulation of the filling and curing of epoxy resins containing different amounts of graphenes in the resin transfer molding, FLUENT and MATLAB have been used in this study, which are a finite element based computational fluid dynamics analysis tool and a general purpose numerical analysis tool, respectively. The effects of graphenes on the mold filling pattern and curing profile are discussed for the resin transfer molding of bisphenol A based epoxy resins.

scholarly journals Preparation of Glass Fabric/Poly(l-lactide) Composites by Thermoplastic Resin Transfer Molding

Polymers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elodie Louisy ◽  
Fabienne Samyn ◽  
Serge Bourbigot ◽  
Gaëlle Fontaine ◽  
Fanny Bonnet
Keyword(s):  
Resin Transfer Molding ◽  
Bulk Polymerization ◽  
Thermoplastic Resin ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Dynamic Vacuum ◽  
Transfer Molding ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Closed Mold ◽  
Process Transfer

This study reports the first example of the production of polylactide composites prepared by Thermoplastic Resin Transfer Molding (T-RTM) via in situ bulk polymerization of l-lactide (l-LA) after injection in a closed mold containing glass fabrics. Tin octoate Sn(Oct)2 was used as the catalyst and first evaluated at the lab-scale in the experimental conditions required in the tank and in the mold of the RTM device. The reactions were then upscaled in the RTM in the absence of reinforcement to ensure the feasibility of the process (transfer and polymerization). Finally, poly-l-lactide (PLLA)-based composites with glass fabrics as the reinforcement were obtained. The resulting PLLA matrices exhibited conversions up to 99% along with high molar masses of up to 78,000 g·mol−1 when the polymerization was carried out under dynamic vacuum (vacuum-assisted RTM, VARTM). Moreover, a good impregnation of the glass fabrics by the matrix was observed by optical microscopy.

Manufacturing Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composite Using RTM Process: An Analytical Approach

2017 ◽  
Vol 380 ◽  
pp. 60-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.J. do Nascimento Santos ◽  
A.G. Barbosa de Lima
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Separation Of Variables ◽  
Resin Transfer Molding ◽  
Surface Finishing ◽  
Constant Thickness ◽  
Molding Process ◽  
Transfer Molding ◽  
Dimensional Precision ◽  
Good Surface ◽  
Injection Process

The Resin Transfer Molding process (RTM) has been widely used for manufacturing of high performance components in aerospace and automotive industries. It is an economical and faster method when compared to open molding process because it allows the molding of complex parts with constant thickness, dimensional precision, good surface finishing and an excellent control of mechanical properties. In this sense, this work aims to study theoretically the manufacture process of polymeric composites reinforced with fibers via resin transfer molding. The governing equations of conservation of mass and momentum, and Darcy's law are presented, and the exact solution of the problems is obtained via method of separation of variables. Predicted results of the flow front and the pressure fields of the resin inside the model during the injection process are presented, compared with experimental data and analyzed. It was verified a good agreement between the results.

Elevated-temperature vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding process for high performance aerospace composites

2013 ◽  
Vol 62 (10) ◽  
pp. 1465-1476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Venkatagireesh Menta ◽  
Ramabhadraraju Vuppalapati ◽  
K Chandrashekhara ◽  
Thomas Schuman ◽  
Jilun Sha
Keyword(s):  
Elevated Temperature ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Resin Transfer Molding ◽  
Molding Process ◽  
Transfer Molding

Cure Kinetics of High Performance Epoxy Molding Compounds

2014 ◽  
Vol 1024 ◽  
pp. 151-154
Author(s):  
Chean Cheng Su ◽  
Cheng Fu Yang ◽  
Chien Huan Wei
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Model ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Resin Transfer Molding ◽  
Cure Kinetics ◽  
Molding Process ◽  
Transfer Molding ◽  
Molding Compounds ◽  
Higher Temperature ◽  
Kinetics Of ◽  
Rubber State

The reaction of EMCs with the triphenylphosphine-1,4-benzoquinone (TPP-BQ) latent catalyst also had a higher temperature sensitivity compared to the reaction of EMCs with triphenylphosphine (TPP) catalyst. In resin transfer molding, EMCs containing the TPP-BQ thermal latency accelerator are least active at a low temperature. Consequently, EMCs have a low melt viscosity before gelation, and the resins and filler are evenly mixed in the kneading process. Additionally, the rheological property, flowability, is increased before the EMC form a network structure in the molding process. The proposed kinetic model adequately describes curing behavior in EMCs cured with two different organophosphine catalysts up to the rubber state in the progress of curing.

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