The objective of this investigation was to characterize two cyanate ester resins and a eight harness satin (8HS) graphite fabric for use in resin film infusion (RFI) processing. Two cyanate ester resin systems were characterized to determine their cure-kinetics, and viscosities during cure. A 8HS graphite fabric was tested in compaction and through the thickness permeability. A one-dimensional, through the thickness, flow and cure computer simulation was run.
The resin cure-kinetics models predicted the curing behavior of the resins as functions of time, temperature, and degree of cure. The proposed viscosity models determined the resin viscosity as a function of temperature and degree of cure. The 8HS graphite fabric was tested in compaction and through the thickness permeability to determine the effect of compaction pressure on fiber volume fraction and in turn on through the thickness permeability. The one-dimensional RFI flow and cure simulation combined the cure-kinetics and viscosity models of the resins with the characteristics of the graphite fabric and determined resin infiltration and cure times.
The proposed cure-kinetics and viscosity models were more than adequate in modeling the cure and flow behavior of the cyanate ester resin systems. Power law curve fits accurately represented the compaction and through the thickness permeability of the 8HS graphite fabric. Finally, the one-dimensional RFI flow and cure simulation showed that resin viscosity was the major influence on the infiltration times.
