The effect of curvilinear carbon fiber arrangement on the mechanical properties of CFRP manufactured by electro-activated deposition molding

Abstract

For an efficient manufacturing method of CFRP, the electro-activated deposition molding method was developed. In this method, the carbon fiber fabric with curvilinear carbon fiber arrangement could be easily manufactured. The arbitrary arrangement of carbon fiber fabric can be woven by using embroidery machine, and was immersed in an electrodeposition solution containing an epoxy group and energized. Resin could be impregnated, after heat curing, CFRP was obtained. Impregnation is occurred in liquid, therefore, pressurizing process can be eliminated. So, autoclave became unnecessary, neither vacuum packing nor vacuum resin injection like VARTM (Vacuum assisted Resin Molding) method was required. In this study, tensile strength tests were conducted on the three kinds of CFRP specimens, with straight carbon fiber without hole, with hole in the center of specimen, and with controlling carbon fiber direction along principle stress. As a result, the maximum stress of the specimen with hole decreased to 82% of without hole. In case of the specimen with controlling carbon fiber direction along principle stress, the maximum stress recovered to 91% of without hole.