Manufacturing Techniques for Polymer Matrix Composites (PMCs)

Suresh Advani is Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Associate Director of the Center for Composite Materials at the University of Delaware, USA. Dr. Kuang-Ting Hsiao is a professor in Mechanical Engineering with expertise in carbon fiber reinforced polymer, nanofiber technology, and artificial intelligence integration for composite material manufacturing. He has extensive knowledge in streamlined design, planning, sensing, control, and database feedback systems for composite manufacturing, as well as characterization and modeling of polymer matrix composites and sustainable energy technologies. With over a decade of experience teaching mechanical engineering courses, Dr. Hsiao brings a wealth of knowledge to the project. He has served as both PI and Co-PI for research projects funded by institutions like NSF, NASA, DOE, and others. Additionally, Dr. Hsiao is the author of a book on manufacturing techniques for polymer matrix composites and has contributed to several book chapters. He holds five patents related to novel polymer and composite materials manufacturing, characterization, and evaluation.

• Contributor contact detailsPart I: Manufacturing of polymer matrix composites (PMCs): short fiber and nanomaterial based processingChapter 1: Introduction to composites and manufacturing processesAbstract:1.1 Processing of polymer matrix composites1.2 Focus and scope of this bookChapter 2: Injection molding in polymer matrix compositesAbstract:2.1 Introduction to injection molding2.2 Molding compounds2.3 Characterization and prediction of fiber orientation2.4 Molding defects2.5 Conclusions and future trends2.6 AcknowledgmentChapter 3: Compression molding in polymer matrix compositesAbstract:3.1 Introduction3.2 Molding materials3.3 Process defects and remedies3.4 Recent developments in press design and process optimization3.5 Modeling and simulation3.6 Future trends3.7 ConclusionsChapter 4: Processing of polymer nanocompositesAbstract:4.1 Introduction4.2 Process description4.3 Methods to improve processPart II: Manufacturing of polymer matrix composites (PMCs): thermoplastic based processingChapter 5: Sheet forming in polymer matrix compositesAbstract:5.1 Introduction: key objectives5.2 Process description5.3 Matrix flow and fibre deformation5.4 Changes to the process to improve product quality5.5 Future trends5.6 Sources of further information and adviceChapter 6: Fabric thermostamping in polymer matrix compositesAbstract:6.1 Introduction6.2 Process description6.3 Material characterization6.4 Modeling6.5 Methods of improving the process to improve product quality6.6 Future trends6.7 Sources of further information and advice6.8 AcknowledgmentsChapter 7: Filament winding process in thermoplasticsAbstract:7.1 Introduction7.2 Winding basics7.3 Winding process7.4 Simulation tools7.5 Component quality7.6 Future trends7.7 Sources of further information and adviceChapter 8: Continuous fiber reinforced profiles in polymer matrix compositesAbstract:8.1 Introduction8.2 Pultrusion8.3 Continuous compression molding8.4 Preferred application areas for the pultrusion process and continuous compression molding processPart III: Manufacturing of polymer matrix composites (PMCs): thermoset based processingChapter 9: Resin transfer molding (RTM) in polymer matrix compositesAbstract:9.1 Introduction9.2 Resin transfer molding (RTM) process steps9.3 Fibers, fabrics and preform manufacturing9.4 Resin system9.5 RTM mold9.6 Resin injection equipment9.7 Issues that influence manufacturing with RTM9.8 The need for process modeling9.9 Resin flow models for RTM9.10 Heat transfer and cure model9.11 Numerical simulation of resin flow9.12 Process controlChapter 10: Vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) in polymer matrix compositesAbstract:10.1 Vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) processing10.2 Fundamentals of VARTM10.3 Defects and challenges of VARTM10.4 Recent advances in VARTM10.5 Conclusion and future trends in VARTM10.6 Membrane-based infusion processing10.7 Membrane evaluation10.8 Process and material property improvement10.9 Summary of membrane-based infusion processingChapter 11: Compression resin transfer moulding (CRTM) in polymer matrix compositesAbstract:11.1 Introduction11.2 Process description11.3 Material properties and characterisation11.4 Modelling and analysis of the CRTM-1 process11.5 Modelling and analysis of the CRTM-2 process11.6 Optimisation of CRTM11.7 Future trendsChapter 12: The pultrusion process for polymer matrix compositesAbstract:12.1 Introduction12.2 Process description12.3 Improvements in pultrusion12.4 Innovation, industrial and future trends12.5 AcknowledgementChapter 13: Autoclave processing for compositesAbstract:13.1 Introduction13.2 Autoclave processing model13.3 Process development13.4 Conclusions and future trendsChapter 14: Out-of-autoclave curing process in polymer matrix compositesAbstract:Introduction14.2 Reasons for using the out-of-autoclave (OoA) process14.3 Strategies14.4 Technical description of different OoA processes14.5 Process comparison and classification14.6 Future trendsSources of further information and adviceIndex