Characterisation of Random Carbon Fibre Composites From a Directed Fibre Preforming Process: The Effects of Moulding Process and Fibre Type

IF 3.9 4区材料科学 Q3 MATERIALS SCIENCE, COMPOSITES

Applied Composite Materials Pub Date : 2026-09-21 DOI:10.1007/s10443-026-10545-3

Z. Xiao, T. A. Turner, L. T. Harper

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

This paper investigates the opportunity for using high-performance aerospace grade carbon fibres to maximise the tensile strength for composites manufactured from randomly orientated carbon fibre tows and an epoxy matrix. Directed Carbon Fibre Preforming (DCFP) has been used to manufacture preforms with a range of different carbon fibre types, all with a target fibre volume fraction of 50% and fibre length of 45 mm. Results indicate that utilising fibres with higher ultimate strengths does not necessarily result in higher composite component strengths, due to resin dominated failures. However, significant improvements in stiffness can be realised, with a more cost-effective solution achieved by blending two carbon fibre grades together to create a hybrid fibre architecture. The effect of moulding process is also studied to understand the effect on material variability and therefore mechanical performance. Whilst High-Pressure Resin Transfer Moulding (HP-RTM) reduces void content compared to standard RTM, the highest tensile stiffness and strength values are achieved by compression moulding due to a more homogeneous fibre distribution resulting from in-mould material flow. In addition, compression moulding offers moulding cycle times that are ~ 60% shorter than those of conventional RTM for the current application.

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定向纤维预成型随机碳纤维复合材料的表征：成型工艺和纤维类型的影响

本文研究了使用高性能航空级碳纤维的机会，以最大限度地提高由随机定向碳纤维束和环氧基制造的复合材料的抗拉强度。定向碳纤维预成型（DCFP）已被用于制造具有一系列不同碳纤维类型的预成型件，所有预成型件的目标纤维体积分数均为50%，纤维长度为45毫米。结果表明，由于树脂主导的失效，使用具有更高极限强度的纤维并不一定会导致更高的复合材料组件强度。然而，通过将两种碳纤维等级混合在一起，形成混合纤维结构，可以实现刚度的显着改善。还研究了成型过程的影响，以了解对材料变异性的影响，从而了解机械性能。虽然高压树脂传递模塑（HP-RTM）与标准RTM相比减少了空隙含量，但由于模内材料流动导致纤维分布更均匀，因此通过压缩模塑可以实现最高的拉伸刚度和强度值。此外，对于目前的应用，压缩成型提供的成型周期时间比传统的RTM短60%。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Applied Composite Materials 工程技术-材料科学：复合

CiteScore

4.20

自引率

4.30%

发文量

审稿时长

1.6 months

期刊介绍： Applied Composite Materials is an international journal dedicated to the publication of original full-length papers, review articles and short communications of the highest quality that advance the development and application of engineering composite materials. Its articles identify problems that limit the performance and reliability of the composite material and composite part; and propose solutions that lead to innovation in design and the successful exploitation and commercialization of composite materials across the widest spectrum of engineering uses. The main focus is on the quantitative descriptions of material systems and processing routes. Coverage includes management of time-dependent changes in microscopic and macroscopic structure and its exploitation from the material''s conception through to its eventual obsolescence.