Study on Curing Deformation of Composite Thin Shells Prepared by M-CRTM with Adjustable Injection Gap

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Manufacturing Engineering
• Composite Materials

Background:

• Composite thin shells, often made with high fiber volume fractions via resin transfer molding (RTM), are prone to void defects.
• These defects cause curing deformations, hindering the final product's assembly requirements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and evaluate a multi-directional compression RTM (M-CRTM) method for reducing void defects in composite thin shells.
• To improve the quality and dimensional stability of composite helmet shells.

Main Methods:

• Developed an adjustable injection gap M-CRTM process tailored for thin shell shapes.
• Utilized X-ray CT detection to quantify porosity and void characteristics.
• Analyzed curing deformation types and their causes.

Main Results:

• The M-CRTM method reduced helmet shell porosity by 36.6% compared to standard RTM.
• Observed more uniform void distribution, decreased void size, and fewer large voids.
• Achieved a 13.7% reduction in maximum curing deformation for M-CRTM processed shells.

Conclusions:

• The M-CRTM method effectively mitigates void defects in composite thin shells.
• This technique enhances dimensional stability and reduces curing deformation, crucial for assembly.
• The study provides valuable insights for applying advanced RTM techniques in composite manufacturing.