3D Woven Textile Structural Polymer Composites: Effect of Resin Processing Parameters on Mechanical Performance

Area of Science:

• Materials Science and Engineering
• Polymer Composites
• Textile Composites

Background:

• Polymer composites utilizing 3D woven structures offer enhanced mechanical properties.
• Optimizing processing parameters is crucial for maximizing the performance of these composites.
• Resin infusion and impregnation significantly influence the mechanical characteristics of fiber-reinforced polymers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of processing parameters on the mechanical properties of 3D woven glass-epoxy composites.
• To identify optimal fabrication conditions for enhanced tensile strength, tensile modulus, impact resistance, and flexural strength.
• To compare the performance of different 3D woven structures (orthogonal, angle interlock, warp interlock).

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of polymer composites using three distinct 3D woven structures (orthogonal, angle interlock, warp interlock) with glass multifilament tows and epoxy resin.
• Systematic variation of processing parameters: add-on percentage, hardener amount, curing time, curing temperature, and molding pressure.
• Mechanical testing including tensile strength, tensile modulus, impact resistance, and flexural strength analysis.

Main Results:

• The angle interlock structure exhibited maximum tensile strength, elongation at break, and tensile modulus.
• An optimal composition of 55% matrix (12% hardener) and 45% fiber was determined for tensile and impact performance.
• Optimal processing conditions included a curing temperature of approximately 140 °C and molding pressure up to 12 bar for improved resin penetration and mechanical properties.

Conclusions:

• Processing parameters significantly impact the mechanical performance of 3D woven glass-epoxy composites.
• The angle interlock structure, combined with optimized parameters (12% hardener, 140 °C curing, 900 s curing time, 12 bar molding pressure), yields superior mechanical properties.
• Effective resin impregnation, influenced by processing conditions, is key to achieving high-performance 3D woven composites.