SENSOR GUIDED CURE PROCESSES – A STUDY OF PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY OPTIMIZATION POTENTIAL

Abstract

In this paper the results of a series of trials are discussed, where prepreg test panels are processed in an autoclave under different cure cycles while their cure progress is monitored by ultrasound sensors. The in-house developed sensors were applied to the mould at four different locations and used to monitor the cure progress throughout the complete autoclave process. The produced panels were inspected visually and by ultrasound scan and then tested for glass transition temperature and by three-point flexural tests. The manufacturer’s recommended cure cycle is used as reference for the process variations and the results of cure monitoring and thermal and mechanical tests for designing optimized processes. The main goals of these investigations are the determination of the time saving potential of sensor guided processes and validation that similar mechanical properties are achieved.