A new variant of liquid composite molding process based on multi-drop resin filling

We proposed a new liquid composite molding process called multi-drop filling (MDF) which includes an automatic resin dropping system for dosing an accurate amount of resin onto the pre-designated positions and a pressing system for impregnating the resin into the fabric. Carbon fiber composites with a complex geometry as well as a plate shape were fabricated using the proposed process to prove its improvements in impregnability and filling time, which were compared with those fabricated using a conventional VARTM process. While tensile, compressive, flexural, and short-beam strengths, as well as void content of the specimens from the proposed process showed similar levels as the VARTM process, the void content at corner regions was remarkably improved and cycle time was also decreased. It proved the ability of the new MDF process to mass-produce the customized composite parts with complex shapes by overcoming the limitations of conventional liquid composite molding.