Analyzing Variation in ILSS of Fiber Reinforced Polymer Laminates with respect to Pressure variation in autoclave

Abstract

Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) laminates fabricated in autoclaves have wide application in industries manufacturing aircrafts, super vehicles, sub-marines etc. These kinds of FRP laminates are light and have superior mechanical properties in fiber direction but weak inter laminar shear stress (ILSS). Hence, aim of this paper is to find the optimum curing pressure in autoclave for maximum ILSS, keeping temperature module constant. Laminates were fabricated at curing pressure of 0, 2, 5 and 8-bar following temperature module in which highest temperature was 135°C. ILSS test by following DIN standard were conducted on ten samples fabricated at each pressure (0, 2, 5 and 8-bar). The failure load obtained by UTM was used to find ILSS by using formula based on beam theory. On interpolation maximum ILSS value of 75.15 MPa was observed at a pressure of 3.43-bar which is 19.39 % higher in comparison with laminates fabricated at 0-bar.