Thermal Analysis During The Consolidation Of PA 66 composite By RTM Process.

In this paper, we present an experimental method to analyze the heat transfer during the consolidation of thermoplastic composite injected at low pressure by Resin Transfer Moulding process (RTM). The composite is based on thermoplastic resin (new generation of low viscosity PA 66) with glass fiber (50 vol%). A specific injection unit composed of an extrusion system and connected to an extruder piston is used to inject the PA 66 in a closed mold heated at 280 °C. The preform is prepared a quasi-unidirectional glass fabrics, optimized to improve the impregnation during the injection phase. The mold is instrumented with two pressure sensors at the inlet and the outlet of the mold to ensure that the filling phase is complete. During the consolidation, the crystallization was observed on the data recorded by a heat flux sensor and also by the thermocouples placed in the preform. The experimental heat flux was compared to numerical results for validation purpose. Finally, no shearing effect, potentially induced by the flow between fibers, on the crystallization kinetics was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]