Continuous Curing of Filament Wound Structrues Using Infrared Heating

纤维缠绕是制造大型、高性能复合材料壳体和结构的有效方法。这项研究将研究在纤维缠绕复合材料结构被缠绕到芯棒或预制件上时，使用红外线加热来连续固化它们的方法。证明这一新工艺可行性的基础是了解绕组表面的辐射换热及其对树脂固化动力学、光学特性和机械性能的影响。为此，将测量这些特性，并将开发一个热力学模型来描述同时缠绕-固化过程。“原则证明”实验将使用中试规模的红外线烤箱和带有实验室规模的纤维缠绕机的热成像设备进行。将对连续养护和间歇养护的效率进行比较。如果制造商有兴趣将这项技术商业化，将制定工艺程序和设计指南。

Filament winding is an efficient method for manufacturing large, high-performance composite shells and structures. The research will investigate the use of infrared heating to continuously-cure filament-wound composite structures as they are being wound onto a mandrel or preform. Fundamental to proving the viability of this novel process is understanding the radiative heat transfer upon the winding's surface and its affect upon the resin's cure kinetics, optical characteristics, and mechanical properties. To this end, these characteristics will be measured and a thermo- mechanical model will be developed to describe the concurrent winding-curing process. "Proof-of-Principle" experiments will be conducted using pilot-scale infrared oven with thermal imaging equipment with a bench-scale filament-winder. Comparisons will be made as to the efficiency of continuous curing versus batch curing. In the event that manufacturers are interested in commercializing this technology, process procedures and design guidelines will be developed.