The power demands in terms of kilowatt-hour electrical use were compared for autoclave curing commercial thermosetting carbon fiber pre-pregs with an innovative alternative of high energy X-ray curing. An automotive component, now made with carbon fiber composites, was selected as an illustrative example, an Aston-Martin hood. Temperature resistant polyester molds for these hoods were used and manufacturer recommended autoclave curing conditions were followed. X-rays, which can penetrate about 15 cm (6 inches) in unit density materials (or less into higher density materials as molds), were used to cure pre-pregs made with a specialty matrix material using the same molds, but doing so without adding any heat for curing. High energy X-ray equipment, generated from a 7 MeV, 700 kW electron beam, is in commercial use for medical device sterilization. This same equipment can also be used for composite curing. Automotive components can be exposed on a continuous basis by passing them in front of the X-ray source. Such electrical sources must be enclosed within thick shielding structures to prevent X-radiation from entering the workplace. Feasibility studies, relying upon vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM), had shown that select combinations of functional monomers and oligomers can be formulated for the X-ray curing of carbon fiber composites within molds. The viscosity of these epoxy based materials was increased for their use as the matrices in pre-pregs. Dynamic mechanical analyses of cured components were used to assess some performance parameters. The New York State Vehicle Composites Program and the prior feasibility studies on X-ray curing were supported by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
Power Demands for Curing Carbon Fiber Composites for Automotive Components
Sae Int. J. Mater. Manf
Sae International Journal of Materials and Manufacturing
SAE 2016 World Congress and Exhibition ; 2016
Sae International Journal of Materials and Manufacturing ; 9 , 3 ; 811-818
2016-04-05
8 pages
Conference paper
English
Power Demands for Curing Carbon Fiber Composites for Automotive Components
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