A rapid cure epoxy resin system for a RTM process

A new epoxy resin system for a RTM process has been developed to improve the production rate of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRPs). The resin system, composed of an anionic polymerized epoxy resin with a chain transfer agent exhibits both longer flow time for impregnation and shorter cure time. The cured resin has good mechanical properties, such as high tensile modulus (3.8GPa), tensile strength (79MPa) and fracture tensile strain (4.1%). With the resin system, a flat CFRP panel (35cm x 70cm x 2mm (thickness) and fiber volume fraction of 52%) was successfully fabricated in 8 minutes by an isothermal RTM process at 105 square. Mechanical tests of the CFRP panel result in high tensile strength (650MPa) and compression strength (620MPa). Also, the CFRP panel has a high T-g (116 square). These results demonstrate that the resin system is practical for automobile outer panel production.