Effect of curing cycle on void distribution and interlaminar shear strength in polymer-matrix composites

S. Hernández (1) , F. Sket (1) , J.M. Molina-Aldaregui'A (1) , C. González (1, 2) , J. Llorca (1)

1 Institute IMDEA Materials [Madrid]
2 Department of Materials Science

The effect of temperature cycle on the void volume fraction, shape and spatial distribution was determined by means of X-ray microtomography in [0] AS4/8552 composite laminates manufactured by compression molding. Cure temperatures were designed to obtain different processing windows while the overall degree of cure was equivalent, leading to laminates with average porosities in the range 0.4 and 2.9 %. Regardless of the final porosity, voids were elongated, oriented parallel to the fibers and concentrated in channels along the width of the laminate as a result of the inhomogeneous process of consolidation and resin flow along the fibers. The intelaminar shear strength was found to be controlled by the void volume fraction in panels with porosity above 1%.

Mots clés: B. Porosity/voids; X-ray microtomography; A. Polymer-matrix composites; B. Curing; B. Fracture

Domaines: Matériaux

S. Hernández, F. Sket, J.M. Molina-Aldaregui'A, C. González, J. Llorca. Effect of curing cycle on void distribution and interlaminar shear strength in polymer-matrix composites. Composites Science and Technology, 2011, 71 (10), pp.1331. ⟨10.1016/j.compscitech.2011.05.002⟩. ⟨hal-00768851⟩