Polymer Matrix Composites Fabrication and Testing

Abstract: This project involves two separate processes for fabricating carbon fiber composite parts using Hexcel’s RTM6 resin system and Kaneka’s IR-6070 toughened resin system to impregnate carbon fiber tow and weave. These two resins were chosen to model microcracking in parts using RTM6 compared to parts using IR-6070. Plies of the composites were made by painting resin onto 8 harness satin weave or impregnating IM7 12k tow in a prepregging machine. Plies were consolidated using an out-of-autoclave …