Mechanism of curing behavior for CFRP compression molding under thermo-mechanical-chemical multi-field coupling

ABSTRACT

Curing is a critical process in the compression molding of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP). It directly bears on the quality of the molded products. Based on the curing theory of resin-based polymers, a thermo-mechanical-chemical multi-field coupling model for CFRP curing in the form of thermal-chemical subprocess, matrix flow-compaction sub-process and residual stress-deformation subprocess, and sets up its data exchange and mutual call relationship. Considering the thermal physics and chemical properties of composites change with temperatures, the authors introduced the thermal viscosity stiffness coefficient and took AS4/3501CFRP molded laminate as an example, and carried out a multi-field coupling simulation of the CFRP curing through compression molding, using the finite-element software COMSOL. The proposed model was proved correct through calculation of an example in the literature. Further, the CFRP curing mechanism was revealed through a detailed analysis on the evolution of temperature, curing degree, stress and strain of the CFRP curing through compression molding. The results show that the large internal temperature gradient during the compression molding of laminates is the main reason for the residual stress of materials and the deformation of laminate. Finally, an AS4/3501CFRP molded laminate was prepared, and its temperature field was monitored by fiber Bragg grating (FBG) transducers. The temperature evolution law of the material was consistent with the finite element simulation results, which demonstrate the correctness of the simulation.

Keywords
CFRP; Compression molding; Multi-field coupling; Mathematical model; curing behavior