University College of Engineering , RTU ,

Kota

MANUFACTURE OF COMPOSITES

Aditya
Gaurav
Submitted To – Submitted by - Govind
S.S Godara Jenendra
Rajat
 MANUFACTURE OF COMPOSITES -
 Hand lay up Technique

 Pressure bag and vacuum bag techni

 Pultrusion

 Resin – transfer Moulding

 Injection Moulding
 INTRODUCTION
 Composites consist of two distinct materials, which
together improve product performance and lower
production costs.
 Composite materials typically include plated, clad, or
coated metals, however the term 'composites' has
evolved to mean a material containing a matrix, or base
substance, and a reinforcement material.
 The matrix acts as a binder for the reinforcement
while controlling the physical shape and dimensions of
the part. Its primary purpose however is to transfer the
load, or stress, applied to the part to the reinforcement.
 The matrix also protects the reinforcement from
adverse environmental effects.
 INTRODUCTION
 The reinforcement’s function is to enhance the
mechanical properties of the composite and is typically
the main load bearing element.
 Reinforcements are usually in the form of either
fibers or particles.
 Matrix and reinforcement materials can be polymers,
metals, ceramics, or carbon.
 The most widely used composite materials are fiber-
reinforced thermosetting polymers.
 A composite can be defined as a combination of two
or more materials that retain their macro-structure
resulting in a material that can be designed to have
improved properties than the constituents alone.
 INTRODUCTION

Advanced composite materials have been used to

fabricate many structural parts in engineering
applications.
 This is due to their many attractive characteristics
such as light weight, high strength, high stiffness,
good fatigue resistance and good corrosion
resistance.
 Also, the ability to manufacture parts with
complicated geometry using fewer components
enables manufacturers to save cost as compared
with the same parts made of conventional metallic
The different stages of existence of composite
constituents up to the final product :-

Stage a: At this stage, the materials appear in raw basic form.

For fibers, these consist of fiber either in the form of filaments or
fiber bundles. Fibers may also be woven into fabrics or braided
into braided perform. For matrix, the material usually appears in
liquid form for thermoset resin or in granular form in the case of
thermoplastics.

Stage b: At this stage, the fibers and matrix may be combined

into a single layer. For the case of thermoset matrix composite,the
matrix may appear in a semi-liquid, semi-solid form so that the
sheet can hold its shape. For the case of thermoplastic composite,
the matrix is solidified. This form for thermoset matrix composites
is called prepreg. For thermoplastic composites, it is called
towpreg.
Stage c: At this stage, the layers in stage b are stacked
on top of each other to make flat plate laminates. This
intermediate step is important for the analysis where
material properties are tested or calculated. However
this step is usually bypassed in the manufacturing
process of practical composite parts.

Stage d: This is the final stage where the final product

configuration is formed.
Figure : 1 Stages of existence of constituents in the
manufacturing of composites
The involvement of these stages in the
different manufacturing processes is as
follows:

1. Hand lay up Technique :- Stages a, b and d are

involved. Stage c is bypassed.

2. Pultrusion :- Stages a and d are involved. Stages b

and c are bypassed.
Theoretically, manufacturing of composites
can be broken down into the following items :-

• Aligning of fibers
• Single filaments
• Fabrics (mats, weaves, braids, knits)
• Bed consisting of many layers of fabrics
• Filling the interstices between filaments with liquid
matrix •Wetting the fibers
• Curing the resin

 Filling interstices between the filaments with liquid

resin can be done at the levels of single filaments, tows,
fabrics, or a bed consisting of many layers of fabrics .
For making a composite part, a manufacturer can
combine or alternate these steps, depending on the
requirements
for quality and cost, as follows :-

For hand-lay-up in open mold for fiber glass/polyester, dry

tows or dry fabrics are laid on a mold, liquid resin is then
poured and spread onto the fiber beds. A few layers are
wetted and left to cure in open air. After these layers are
cured, more layers are added.

For pultrusion, the dry tows are run through a bath of resin
to be wetted. These are then fed into a heated die. The fibers
and resin are subjected to compaction and heating. When
the assembly of fibers and resin exit the die, they are
compacted and cured.
 HAND-LAY-UP TECHNIQUE

Figure : 2 hand-lay-up fabrication method and a representative

lay-up sequence. Individual layers can be cut by hand or by a
computerized machine cutter. The layers can be stacked one on
top of the other by hand or by a robot.
Figure 3 - Hand-Lay-Up Technique
Manual lay-up involves cutting the reinforcement material to size
using a variety of hand and power-operated devices.
 These cut pieces are then impregnated with wet matrix
material, and laid over a mold surface that has been coated with a
release agent and then typically a resin gel-coat.
 The impregnated reinforcement material is then hand-rolled to
ensure uniform distribution and to remove trapped air. More
reinforcement material is added until the required part thickness
has been built-up.
 Manual lay-up can also be performed using pre impregnated
reinforcement material, called 'prepreg'.
 The use of prepreg material eliminates separate handling of the
reinforcement and resin, and can improve part quality by providing
more consistent control of reinforcement and resin contents.
 Prepreg must be kept refrigerated prior to use, however, to
prevent premature curing.
 The productivity of the manual lay-up can be
automated using CNC machines.
 These machines are used for both prepreg tape-laying
and prepreg fiber-placement primarily in the aerospace
industry.
 There is virtually no limit to the size of the work that
can be tape-rolled, but the shape has to be relatively flat
to butt each successive row without gaps, overlaps or
wrinkles.
 Automatic, multi axis fiber placement machines
overcome this limitation by dispensing numerous,
narrow individual tapes of material which are collimated
as they are laid on the mold surface.
 Resins are impregnated by hand into fibers in the form
of weaves and fabrics.
 Rollers or brushes are typically used.
 The composite is left to cure under standard
atmospheric conditions.
 The major disadvantage is the lack of consistency;
 The quality of the product is highly dependent on the
skill of the laminator.
 Resins need to be low in viscosity to be workable by
hand.
 This generally compromises the mechanical and
thermal properties of the composite and creates a health
risk for the laminator.
Advantages:-
 low cost tools
 versatile: wide range of products

Disadvantages:-
 time consuming
 easy to form air bubbles
disorientation of fibers
 inconsistency
APPLICATIONS
 Making of custom parts in low to
medium volume quantities.
 Bathtubs,
 Swimming pools,
 Boat hulls,
 Storage tanks,
 Duct and air handling equipment,
 Furniture components
PULTRUSION

Figure : 4 Pultrusion Process

Figure : 5 A lab pultrusion
machine
Figure : 6 Components of pultrusion
machine
Process of pultrusion
1 - Continuous roll of reinforced fibers/woven fiber
mat
2 - Tension roller
3 - Resin Impregnator
4 - Resin soaked fiber
5 - Die and heat source
6 - Pull mechanism
7 - Finished hardened fiber reinforced polymer
 Fibers are pulled from a creel through a resin bath
and then on through a heated die.
 As the fiber passes through the die, the resin
cures.
 This process is limited to components with
constant, or near constant, cross-sections.
 Additionally, the cost of the heated die can be
high.
 Pultrusion yields smooth finished parts that
typically do not require post processing.
 A wide range of continuous, consistent, solid and
hollow profiles are pultruded, and the process can be
custom-tailored to fit specific applications such as
the constant cross-section spar in some windmill
 Pultrusion is a continuous process used primarily to produce
long, straight shapes of constant cross-section.
 Pultrusion is similar to extrusion except that the composite
material is pulled, rather than pushed, through a die.
 Pultrusions are produced using continuous reinforcing fibers
called 'roving' that provide longitudinal reinforcement, and
transverse reinforcement in the form of mat or cloth materials.
 These reinforcements are resin impregnated by drawing
through a resin wet-out station; and generally shaped within a
guiding, or preforming, system.
 They are then subsequently shaped and cured through a
preheated die or set of dies.
 Once cured, the pultrusion is saw-cut to length.
 Pultrusions can be hollow or solid, and applications include
bar and rod, pipe, tubing, ladder rails and rungs, and supports
of many kinds.
 Advantages: -
Automated processes.
High speed.

Versatile cross-sectional shape.

Continuous reinforcement.

 Disadvantages: -
Diecan be easily messed up.
Expensive die.

Mainly thermoset matrix.

RESIN – TRANSFER MOULDING

Figure 7 : Resin transfer moulding

process
Introduction
Resin transfer moulding (RTM) is an increasingly common
form of moulding, using liquid composites.
 It is primarily used to mold components with large surface
areas, complex shapes and smooth finishes.
 RTM is unlike reaction injection moulding and structural
reaction injection moulding processes (SRIM), in which
the chemical reaction is induced by the mixture of reactants.
 The chemical reaction for resins used in RTM are
thermally activated from the fiber mat or preform and mold
wall.
 The reaction speed of RTM is much slower than that in
SRIM, allowing for a longer fill time at lower injection
pressure.
 Final RTM products will be light in weight and high in
Process
 Material held in a closed
mold
 Resin injected

Figure 8 Resin Transfer moulding

 RTM is a closed-mold, vacuum-assisted process that
employs a flexible solid counter tool used for the B-side
surface compression.
 This process yields excellent strength-to-weight
characteristics, high glass-to-resin ratio and increased
laminate compression.
 In this process, fiber preform or dry fiber
reinforcement is packed into a mold cavity that has the
shape of the desired part. The mold is then closed and
clamped.
 Catalyzed, low viscosity resin is then pumped into the
mold under pressure, displacing the air at the edges,
until the mold is filled.
 After the fill cycle, the cure cycle starts during which
the mold is heated, and the resin polymerizes to become
rigid plastic.
Gel coats may be used to provide a high-quality,
durable finished product.
 This process is well-suited for mass production of 100
to 10,000 units/year of high-quality composite fiberglass
or fiber-reinforced plastic parts.
 It is recommended for products that require high
strength-to-weight requirements. Tooling used in this
process can be made from various materials including
aluminum, nickel shell, mild steel and polyester.
 The light RTM (LRTM) process, on the other hand, is
similar to that of RTM, but differs in the method of
closing the mould. The closure of the mould is done
mechanically or by applying vacuum between two seals
in the mould peripheral flange.
 Advantages
 Components will have good surface finish on both sides
 Selective reinforcement and accurate fiber management is
achievable
 Ability to build-in fiber volume fraction loadings up to 65%
 Uniformity of thickness and fiber loading, uniform shrinkage
 Inserts may be incorporated into moldings
 Tooling costs comparatively low
 Uses only low pressure injection
 Low volatile emission during processing
 Ability to produce near net shape moldings
 Process can be automated, resulting in higher production
rates
 Ability to mould complex structural and hollow shapes
 Low resultant voids
 Ability to achieve from 0.5mm to 90mm laminate thickness
 Disadvantages

 waste some material (spill)

 curing time long
 hard for intricate parts
 high tooling cost
Applications
RTM is of major interest for various moulding
applications as it promises performance improvements
and cost savings over traditional methods. Some of the
major applications of the RTM process include:-

 Truck panels
 Boat hulls
 Wind turbine blades
 Aerospace and automobile parts
 Medical composites
 Bathroom fixtures, car body, helmet, etc.
 REFERENCES
http://www.azom.com/article.aspx?

Composite Manufacturing Techniques By Suong V. Hoa

www.sme.org

Wikipedia

http://www.compositesworld.com/articles/brandt-goldsworthy-
composites-visionary
THANK YOU