Manufacturing CFRP-Parts Using a Modified Co-Curing Method – Fundamental Experimental Analysis

Abstract

With the increasing utilization of fiber-reinforced polymers in various areas of application such as aviation and automotive, the need for efficient production methods appropriate for these materials also gains importance. The widespread use of metallic fasteners in conjunction with differential design leads to stress concentrations when applied to FRPs and prevents the full utilization of their mechanical properties. In an effort to develop an appropriate joining technology that also contributes to reducing tooling costs, co-curing of thermoset FRP laminates is analyzed in the present work. To gain insight into the feasibility of the use of pre-cured laminates in co-curing processes, laminates of varying degree of cure are joined with uncured laminates in a co-curing process and the mechanical properties of the resulting laminates are investigated experimentally. Based on these experimental results, an interdependence between bonding properties and the degree of cure of the pre-cured laminate can be shown.