Infiltração de fluidos carregados em meios porosos via processo RTM: análise teórica e experimental.

Abstract

This paper aims to conduct a theoretical and experimental study of the process of resin transfer molding (RTM), with the addition of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in the resin, in the manufacture of polyester matrix composites reinforced with glass fibers. Experiments were carried out in a mold with cavity dimensions 320 x 150 x 3.6 mm, at room temperature, maximum injection pressure of 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 bar, fiber volume fraction of 19, 24 and 30% and CaCO3 concentrations (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40%) and simulated in rectilinear infiltration of resin in the mold via software commercial PAM-RTM. Results of the flow front position and mold filling time are presented, analyzed and compared with results obtained via software in order to investigate the behavior of the flow and to estimate the permeability of the medium using the method of least squares error. It is concluded that the CaCO3 used in the polyester resin hinders the filling of the fibrous medium for the RTM molding process and affects permeability, resin mobility and viscosity, and the filling time of the mold. It was also observed that the granulometric size distributions were next, while that, in the microscopic analysis seen only fiber area and without CaCO3. The numerical results obtained with the simulator showed good agreement with experimental data in terms of the position of the flow front, filling time and injection pressure.