Optimization of infrared radiation cure process parameters for glass fiber reinforced polymer composites

Elevated temperature post curing is one of the most critical step in the processing of polymer composites. It ensures that the complete cross-linking takes place to produce the targeted properties of composites. In this work infrared radiation (IR) post curing process for glass fiber reinforced polymer composite laminates is studied as an alternative to conventional thermal cure. Distance from the IR source, curing schedule and volume of the composite were selected as the IR cure parameters for optimization. Design of experiments (DOE) approach was adopted for conducting the experiments. Tensile strength and flexural strength of the composite laminate were the responses measured to select the final cure parameters. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), surface plots and contour plots clearly demonstrate that the distance from the IR source and volume of the composite contribute nearly 70% to the response functions. This establishes that polymer composites cured using IR technique can achieve the same properties using only 25% of the total time compared to that of conventional thermal curing.

Conventional thermal post curing process of polymer composites has the disadvantages of longer cure schedule, presence of thermal gradient between the core and outer layers and uncured resin patches within the composite laminate. Infrared radiation (IR) which is a part of electromagnetic spectrum, like other radiation curing methods, it is utilized for processing of food products, heating metals and other applications. The same technology is extended for curing of polymer composite laminates in this work. IR curing results in volumetric heating, hence it is faster and better compared to thermal curing. Considerable amount of time is saved as understood from the graph.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights
► IR curing utilizes only 25% of total time as compared to conventional thermal curing method.
► The optimized process parameters have been developed for Infrared radiation curing process.
► Infrared radiation curing can be effectively employed for curing of polymer composite laminates.