Liquid composite molding is broadly used for manufacturing composite parts. Apart from the preforming of the dry fibrous material, mold filling and curing of the resin are the main steps in the manufacturing process. For process simulation numerical methods, like finite element methods are applied. Flow models describing the flow behavior through a porous medium are well established. The ability to predict and monitor the curing process in liquid composite molding is crucial for manufacturing process optimization in case of application of rapid curing resin systems. Based on differential scanning calorimetry and rheological experiments, cure kinetics and viscosity of a resin system were characterized. A new kinetic and complex viscosity model is proposed to predict epoxy resin properties in numerical modeling of liquid composite molding. The semi‐empirical models are simple to use and therefore suitable for process optimization in an industrial environment. Both models were validated by a fitting to the experimental data by the Levenberg‐Marquardt method. A process to determine the initial values for the fitting procedure is also proposed. The predictions of the validated models were in good agreement with the measured data, and are therefore applicable for numerical process optimization. Polym. Compos. 25:255–269, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.

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The application of additive manufacturing changes from prototypes to series production. In order to fulfill all requirements of series production, the process and the material characteristics must be known. The machine operator of additive manufacturing systems is both a component and a material producer. Nevertheless, there is no standardized procedure for the manufacturing or testing of such materials. This includes the high degree of anisotropy of additively manufactured polymers via material extrusion. The interlayer bonding performance between two layers in the manufacturing direction z is the obvious weakness that needs to be improved. By optimizing this interlayer contact zone, the overall performance of the additively manufactured polymer is increased. This was achieved by process modification with an infrared preheating system (IPS) to keep the temperature of the interlayer contact zone above the glass transition temperature during the manufacturing process. Combining destructive and non-destructive testing methods, the process modification IPS was determined and evaluated by a systematic approach for characterizing the interlayer bonding performance. Thereby, tensile tests under quasi-static and cyclic loading were carried out on short carbon fiber-reinforced polyamide (SCFRP). In addition, micro-computed tomography and microscopic investigations were used to determine the process quality. The IPS increases the ultimate interlayer tensile strength by approx. 15% and shows a tendency to significantly improved the fatigue properties. Simultaneously, the analysis of the micro-computed tomography data shows a homogenization of the void distribution by using the IPS.

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Generating serial components via additive manufacturing (AM) a deep understanding of process-related characteristics is necessary. The extrusion-based AM called fused layer manufacturing (FLM), also known as fused deposition modeling (FDM™) or fused filament fabrication (FFF) is an AM process for producing serial components. Improving mechanical properties of AM parts is done by adding fibers in the raw material to reinforce the polymer. The study aims to create a more detailed comprehension of FLM and process-related characteristics with their influence on the composite.Thereby, a short carbon fiber-reinforced polyamide (CarbonX™ Nylon, 3DXTECH, USA) with 12.5 wt.‑% fiber content, 7 μm fiber diameter, and 150 to 400 µm fiber length distribution was investigated. To separate process-related characteristics of FLM, reference specimens were fabricated via injection molding (IM) with single-batch material. For the mechanical characterization, quasi-static tensile tests were carried out in accordance to DIN 527‑2. Quality assessment including void content and void distribution was performed via micro-computed tomography (CT).The mechanical characterization clarifies effects on mechanical properties depending on process-related characteristics of FLM. CT scans show higher void contents of FLM specimens compared to IM specimens and void orientation dependent on printing direction. FLM shows process-related characteristics which generally strengthen mechanical properties of polymers. Nevertheless, tensile strength of FLM specimens decrease by more than 28% compared to quasi-homogenous IM specimens.