Anisotropic expansion and shrinkage behavior of thermosetting prepreg layups with respect to the compaction strategy
Sourour Traouli, Steven Le Corre, Vincent Sobotka, Mael Péron, Jago Pridie
Abstract. The manufacturing of high-performance thermosetting composites requires precise control over thermo-mechanical and chemical processes, particularly during curing. Cure shrinkage in the thermoset matrix, coupled with thermal expansion and compaction, significantly influences the final part’s dimensional stability and structural integrity. Additionally, improper compaction before curing can lead to defects such as residual porosity. This study characterizes these interrelated phenomena using a combination of advanced experimental tools: a press compaction setup, the PvT-HADDOC apparatus, and the CODEC bench. The press compaction method optimizes pre-consolidation, while the CODEC bench enables real-time monitoring of vacuum-assisted debulking. The PvT-HADDOC setup facilitates precise mutli-axial strain measurements under controlled curing conditions. The results highlight the critical role of pre-compaction and controlled curing parameters in minimizing defects and ensuring high-quality composite manufacturing. This work provides valuable insights for optimizing processing strategies in industrial applications.
Keywords
Thermoset Prepreg, Porosity, Consolidation, Cure Shrinkage
Published online 5/7/2025, 10 pages
Copyright © 2025 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA
Citation: Sourour Traouli, Steven Le Corre, Vincent Sobotka, Mael Péron, Jago Pridie, Anisotropic expansion and shrinkage behavior of thermosetting prepreg layups with respect to the compaction strategy, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 54, pp 2361-2370, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644903599-255
The article was published as article 255 of the book Material Forming
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
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