Low-cost fabrication of high-performance composite structures using external compaction pressure

Abstract

In the composite industry, wet lay-up and vacuum bagging are widely used, low-cost manufacturing processes. This paper investigates the mechanical performance of wet layup and vacuum bagged carbon fibre-reinforced laminates compressed in a hydraulic press at different compaction pressures. The external compaction pressure is shown to significantly reduce void content, and increase the fibre volume fraction and mechanical performance of tested laminates. The tensile and flexural properties of tested specimens subjected to high levels of external compaction pressure are found to be comparable to those of out-of-autoclave (OOA) prepreg specimens. It is summised that the use of external compaction pressure over wet layup and vacuum bagged composites offers a low-cost (and low-energy) industrial processing route for manufacturing high-performance carbon fibre-reinforced components.