Experimental and analytical investigation on resin impregnation behavior in continuous carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic polyimide composites

In molding of carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastics (CFRTP), resin impregnation behavior to fiber yarns is very important because higher viscosity of molten thermoplastics inhibites resin impregnation to the interspace among fibers. Resultant resin un-impregnation causes lower mechanical properties of CFRTP. The purpose of this study was to clarify the relation among molding method, molding conditions and resin impregnation to fiber yarns experimentally and analytically. In this study, CFRTPs using continuous carbon fiber yarn as a reinforcement and a thermoplastic polyimide which is excellent in heat resistance as a matrix resin were produced by Micro-Braiding, Film Stacking and Powder method. In addition resin impregnation was modeled based on Darcy’s law and continuity condition. As a result, analytical resin impregnation prediction showed good agreements with the experimental results in all the producing methods and molding conditions. In addition, the void content in the molded CFRP could be greatly reduced by pressurizing cooling.