Determination of the Composite Panel Moulding Pressure Value

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Engineering
• Manufacturing Processes

Background:

• Prefabricated composite panels are susceptible to residual stresses and defects during molding.
• Understanding the interplay of temperature, pressure, and material properties is crucial for quality control.
• Existing methods often struggle to fully regulate stress-strain behavior and prevent defects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of molding pressure on the quality of polymeric composite products.
• To develop a predictive model for stress-strain behavior during composite molding.
• To optimize molding parameters for defect-free composite panel manufacturing.

Main Methods:

• Development of a mathematical model integrating chemo-viscous, thermal, and stress-strain behaviors.
• Experimental analysis of molding pressure effects on material properties and defect formation.
• Comparative study of stepwise cooling with and without vacuum pressure.

Main Results:

• Established a method to determine optimal degassing time based on temperature and pressure.
• Identified peak volatile matter yield at low curing degrees (≤10%) for effective removal.
• Demonstrated significant reduction in defects like delamination and swelling under vacuum pressure during cooling.

Conclusions:

• Molding pressure and vacuum application are critical for controlling residual stresses and preventing defects.
• The developed mathematical model accurately predicts composite behavior, with errors under 7% compared to experimental data.
• Optimized molding parameters and vacuum application enhance the surface quality and integrity of composite panels.