Identifying root causes and process control solutions for print-through phenomenon in thin open-moulded composite laminates

纤维增强复合材料正变得越来越有前途，作为当今和未来的材料。 未来将用于日常使用的几种产品，从汽车/自行车车身到家用电器， 其他几个应用。复合材料制成的最终用途产品的世界市场价值为 据报道，在2011 - 2012年为556亿美元，北美复合材料行业加速增长， 约9%。这一领域的一个主要重点和兴趣是发展增值制造业 这些工艺可以进一步提高这些有前途的材料的性能。最终复合材料的质量 然而，产品的质量与其生产过程中应用的加工参数的准确性密切相关。 制造业玻璃纤维增强塑料（GFRP）是当今最常用的复合材料类型， 通过开放模塑技术制造的产品，特别是因为它们提供低资本成本， 与，例如，碳纤维复合材料量化GFRP质量的主要指标之一 产品是它的表面光洁度。工艺参数选择不当可能导致GFRP表面缺陷， 如印透、起泡、橙子皮、开裂和光泽度。 重点关注印刷穿透现象（PTP）作为复合材料当前的主要挑战之一 该项目旨在采用系统的实验统计方法来确定主要的制造商， 导致这种缺陷产生的加工因素。娱乐业的案例研究，主要是 玻璃钢RV子组件由BC省的复合材料制造商制造，加拿大，使用切碎的 纤维喷涂技术已被考虑。研究的主要统计参数包括：聚合物基体 固化动力学，包括夏季与冬季条件下的温度和湿度效应，模塑时间， 和脱模后条件。新的知识和原始的最佳实践指南，预计从这一点 研究了玻璃钢制品生产过程中PTP缺陷的处理方法，对玻璃钢制品的生产具有一定的参考价值。 加拿大其他复合材料行业的长期。

Fibre-reinforced composite materials are becoming increasingly promising as the material of today and the future in several products that are used on daily basis, from car/bicycle bodies to house appliances, among several other applications. The world market value of end-use products manufactured from composites was reported to be $55.6 billion in 2011-2012, with the North American composites industry accelerating at approximately 9%. A major focus and interest in this field is the development of value-added manufacturing processes that can further advance capabilities of these promising materials. The quality of final composite products, however, is closely linked to the accuracy of processing parameters applied during their manufacturing. Glass fibre reinforced plastics (GFRPs) are today the most common type of composites used in products fabricated through open moulding techniques, particularly since they offer low capital costs when compared to, e.g., carbon fiber composites. One of the main metrics for quantifying the quality of a GFRP product is its surface finish. Inadequate choice of processing parameters can cause GFRP surface defects such as print-through, blisters, orange peel, cracking, and glossiness. Focusing on the print-through phenomenon (PTP) as one of the main current challenges for composites manufacturers, this project aims to employ a systematic experimental-statistical approach to identify main processing factors that contribute to the generation of this defect. A case study in the recreation sector, mainly GFRP RV sub-components manufactured by a composite manufacturer in B.C., Canada, using the chopped fibre spray-up technique has been considered. The main statistical parameters to study include: polymer matrix cure kinetics including temperature and humidity effects in summer versus winter conditions, moulding time, and post-de-moulding conditions. New knowledge and original best-practice guidelines are expected from this research as to how manage the PTP defect during manufacturing of GFRP parts, which can be of benefit to other Canadian composite industries in the long term.