TECHNOLOGICAL FEATURES OF ULTRASOUND APPLICATION IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COMPOSITE STRUCTURES MADE OF PRE-PREGS WITH AN EXPIRED EPOXY
Abstract and keywords
Abstract:
The prospects of using polymer composite materials (PCM) in the designs of various technical systems are shown. It is stated that despite the expanded use of thermoplastic polymers, there remains a tendency towards the predominant use of thermoplastic (in particular, epoxy) binders. This is due to the better impregnation of most fibers with these polymers, which ensures high-quality uniform impregnation of the filler using vacuum infusion technology. There is a serious shortage of epoxies with a limited expiration of pre-pregs which form the product, and the possibility of recycling PCMs made of them. This creates certain difficulties for the disposal of expired pre-pregs. A method is proposed and experimentally substantiated for processing such materials into highly filled layered composite plates by layering with ultra-sound. It is shown that controlled softening of the binder without its thermal destruction under the action of ultrasound and the creation of a certain pressure makes it possible to achieve the connection of the layers into a composite structure. Rational technological parameters are determined such as oscillation amplitude of 15-20 microns, static pressure of 0.16–0.19 MPa, temperature in the range of 80-90°C. It is found out that the samples obtained in these modes correspond in bending strength to the samples obtained using traditional pressing technology from suitable pre-pregs, and in the range of deformations of 0.3 mm or less, they even significantly exceed them. The research results can be used to solve the problem of utilization of pre-pregs based on expired epoxies by manufacturing products from them with reduced durability requirements, working mainly in the field of small deformations under the action of external loads.

Keywords:
pre-preg, impact, products, materials, composite, binder, adhesion, delamination, stress, bending
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