Fabrication of glass fiber-reinforced transparent composites using vacuum assisted resin transfer molding process

Author

Gregory A. Taylor

Abstract

"The most commonly used transparent material is glass. Traditionally, glass is not desired for applications involving a low weight material while preserving high strength such as aerospace and military applications where armor must also be transparent. Some applications may include aircraft canopies and other vehicle windows. Development of a reliable transparent composite would fill a need for many of these applications where a transparent structure must both be strong and lightweight. A transparent polymer reinforced with a glass fiber fabric is a viable solution. To ensure transparency, both fiber and matrix must match in refractive index.

In the present work, transparent composites are manufactured using two vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) processes. An E-glass fiber fabric is used as reinforcements and an epoxy-based resin developed at the Missouri University of Science & Technology is used as the matrix. In the VARTM process, the glass fiber preform is placed between two molds for part quality and the mold is sealed with a vacuum bag. Resin is drawn into the mold by a combination of a vacuum and atmospheric pressure to infuse the preform and the part is cured. A second, yet similar VARTM process has been developed to decrease void content and increase transparency of the composite panels through the elimination of air bubbles concentrated at the initial stages of infusion"--Abstract, page iii.

Advisor(s)

Chandrashekhara, K.

Committee Member(s)

Okafor, A. Chukwujekwu (Anthony Chukwujekwu)
Schuman, Thomas P.

Department(s)

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Degree Name

M.S. in Aerospace Engineering

Publisher

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Publication Date

Fall 2014

Pagination

viii, 31 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 29-30).

Rights

© 2014 Gregory Taylor, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Thesis Number

T 11507

Electronic OCLC #

1104294254

Recommended Citation

Taylor, Gregory A., "Fabrication of glass fiber-reinforced transparent composites using vacuum assisted resin transfer molding process" (2014). Masters Theses. 7862.
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/masters_theses/7862