Abstract

When laying up dry composite materials and aligning the fibers in the appropriate directions it can be a challenge due to the dryness of the fiber and mold design. Several commercial products are available to help fix plies to molds keeping the proper fiber orientation depending upon mold geometry. Prepreg and wet layups do not have this problem due to the inherent inclusion of a matrix in their manufacturing, dry materials have no added epoxy at the time of layup and are therefore in need of assistance maintain position. The purpose of this research is to determine if Super 77™ or EPON™ 2002 increases or decreases mechanical properties of the neat resin and composite laminates; if the increase or decrease is dependent upon the type of epoxy, and if the amount of applied tackifier can be optimized towards a high or low application quantity to minimize any detrimental effects to mechanical properties. Each tackification agent was applied in high and low concentrations to eight composite panels, with two control panels. The EPON™ was applied manually and set with heat exposure while the Super 77™ was sprayed from an aerosol can. The Super 77™ plies were stacked and pressed by hand while the EPON™ plies were stacked and ironed together to create panels, which were then infused with one of two room temperature infusion epoxies, MVS 610 or INF 114. The panels were then cut to specimen size for testing. Neat resin specimens were cast in silicone molds with high and low concentrations of tackifiers and allowed to cure for 12 hours at room temp, then heated to 60° C for 8 Both Super 77™ and EPON™ 2002 reduced the SBS for both epoxies, but Super 77™ reduced the short beam shear more than EPON™ 2002. The modulus of the neat resin cast specimens with high concentration were between 0 to 20% lower than neat resin with no tackifier; the tensile strength was increased for those specimens with Super 77™ and lower for those with EPON™ 2002. Similarly, the Charpy test resulted in higher values for Super 77™ than for EPON™ 2002. The effects of Super 77™ and EPON™ 2002 are complex and varied depending on application concentration, resin, and tackifier type; but the addition of any tackifier reduces mechanical properties from non-tackified laminates.

Degree

College and Department

Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology; Mechanical Engineering

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