Application of Calcium Carbonate in Resin Transfer Molding Process

Abstract

Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) is one of the most widely known composite manufacturing techniques of the liquid molding family, being extensively studied and used to obtain advanced composite materials comprised of fibers embedded in a thermoset polymer matrix. Nowadays, RTM is used by many industrial sectors such as automotive, aerospace, civil and sporting equipment. Therefore, the objective of this study is to verify the effect of calcium carbonate mixed in resin in the RTM process. Several rectilinear infiltration experiments were conducted using glass fiber mat molded in a RTM system with cavity dimensions of 320 x 150 x 3.6 mm, room temperature, maximum injection pressure 0.202 bar and different content of CaCO3 (10 and 40%) with particle size of 75μm. The results show that the use of filled resin with CaCO3 influences the preform impregnation during the RTM molding, changing the filling time and flow from position, however it is possible to make the composite with a good quality and low cost.