Study of the samples of polymer composite materials with an uneven surface using hydrostatic weighing

Abstract

An increase in the size and the number of the elements of the aircraft structures made of polymer composite materials (PCM) required the search for new energy-saving and less expensive non-autoclave technologies. The use of one of them, vacuum infusion, inevitably leads to formation of an uneven surface, thus inhibiting determination of the true thickness by standard methods, and, in turn, affects determination of the physical and mechanical properties of the material. The results of measuring density of carbon plastics by hydrostatic weighing are presented to calculate the true thickness of materials, volume content of binder and porosity. The developed method is also suitable for PCMs based on combustible reinforcing materials like organic plastics, hybrid and other materials that cannot be subjected to burning-off to determine the binder content.