Composite of carbon fiber and bicomponent epoxy aradur LY 5052 processed by RTM and compression: fatigue behaviour

Abstract

This research work aims to produce and study the mechanical behavior of a structural composite constituted by a biaxial fabric reinforcement [-45+45] from the company SAERTEX of carbon fiber Hexcel IM7 GP in a quadriaxial architecture [0/90/+45/-45/-45/+45/90/0/0/90/+45/-45/-45/+45/90/0] in 8 layers, to ensure a volume of fibers higher than 50%, for a fabric grammature equal to 410 g/m2 and Epóxi bicomponent Aradur LY 5052 as matrix.. The manufacture of this material must be done carefully because the objective is to avoid imperfections in the laminate, due to the demands of industries, especially the aircraft industry, in which the presence of voids in structural parts must be at most 2%. The composite will be developed by the techniques of compression performed in the pressing machine model CMG 100H-15-C CARVER, with maximum compression force of 100 ton and by Resin Transfer Moulding, through the injection system Radius 2100cc RTM Injector. After the consolidation of the pane, a test of ultrasound and fatigue by traction will be done by the equipment C-scan by water immersion MI-Scan, model PSS600 of MATEC INSTRUMENTS, and the servo-hydráulic machine INSTRON model 8801, respectively. Samples will be analyzed according to imperfections they present and their mechanical resistance effects. First and with the composites ready, the microscopy acoustic inspection will be done, it allows to verify the fiber impregnation by the resin, considering some types of defects such as poor filling areas, resin accumulation, and presence of voids. For the mechanic characterization, axial fatigue will be done, aiming to identify the material resistance when subjected to predetermined cyclic stresses. Thus, the characterization of composites samples manufactured by the techniques RTM and pressing provides a comparison and conclusion related to the quality of the process, that is, which set of samples the result is more satisfactory and is consistent with the purpose of this research in minimize the perceptual of defects in the production of structural composites, aiming to reach a value very close to zero.(AU)