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Journal Article

High Speed Reactive Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) Process Simulation for Mass Production of Automotive Structural Parts

2015-04-14
2015-01-0722
High speed Reactive Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) is a promising process for the mass production of structural composite parts in the automotive industry. In this technology a low viscosity reactive thermosetting or thermoplastic polymer is injected in a fibrous preform made of glass or carbon fibres fabrics. Continuous fibre reinforcements contain two types of volume to be impregnated: microscopic voids inside the fibre tows and mesoscopic ones between the tows. Because of this double-scale structure, the saturation of fabrics with bi-disperse porous structure is not instantaneous during resin injection. The use of reactive resins aims to reduce both the resin viscosity and part cycle time by beginning curing during the filling stage. However the chemical reactions generate significant evolution in the temperature, composition and properties of the resin during injection, which can affect the filling and quality of the part.
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