Material Characterization For Resin Transfer Molding

Resin transfer molding offers advantages in producing near net shape composite structures. Structural composites require high fiber volumes. This necessitates understanding the flow properties of the matrix material, and its ability to wet the fibrous preform. The critical factors to be investigated are viscosity of the resin as a function of temperature and cure kinetics. Rheology provides the means by which these factors are quantified and translated into processing parameters.