Surface quality and mechanical properties of epoxy-glass fibre laminates manufactured by RTM method with use of gelcoat
Mateusz Kozioł, Jakub Wieczorek, Bartosz Hekner
Quarterly No. 3, 2016 pages 189-195
DOI:
keywords: laminate, gelcoat, resin transfer moulding (RTM)
abstract The aim of the study was to determine the effect of applying a gelcoat covering on the surface quality and mechanical properties of selected types of glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) laminates produced by the resin transfer moulding (RTM) method. To carry out the investigations, a set of laminate panels was manufactured on the basis of three types of glass fibre reinforcements: plain-woven fabric, chopped strand mat and 3D fabric. They were manufactured by vacuum assisted resin transfer moulding (RTM), alternatively without and with an additional layer of gelcoat. The polyester gelcoat was applied with a brush. As the matrix of the composites, an epoxy resin was used. Evaluation of the manufactured laminate surfaces was conducted using an optical profilographometer, whilst evaluation of the border area between the gelcoat layer and the main structure of the laminate was carried out by microscopic visualization. In order to evaluate the effect of the gelcoat layer presence on the mechanical performance of the laminates, static bending tests were performed. The obtained results allow one to conclude that application of the gelcoat covering resulted in improvement of the investigated laminate surface quality. Decreases in the maximum and average heights of the surface profiles were observed. An especially big difference in the profile height is visible between the 3D laminate without and with the gelcoat covering. Almost all the taken photographs testify to very good coupling between the gelcoat layer and the main laminate structure. The transition between these two elements has a rather discrete character. However, an evident diffusion area occurs in the matrix-gelcoat coupling line and evident penetration of the gelcoat into the fibre strands occurs in the fibre-gelcoat coupling line. It was found that the presence of the gelcoat layer does not have a significant negative effect on the mechanical properties of the laminates. All the tested series of laminates with the gelcoat covering showed a significantly lower standard deviation than the equivalent series of laminates without gelcoat. It means better repeatability of the mechanical properties in the case of the laminates with the gelcoat covering in comparison with those without gelcoat. A consequence of the obtained results is the conclusion that RTM technology is very well suited for manufacturing laminate products with a gelcoat covering.