Prepreg, carbon fiber, thermoset autoadhesive resin for sandwich structures: advantages, disadvantages and manufacturing challenges

Abstract

It’s thoroughly known that sandwich structures in aeronautical sector are formed by a core material, which more usual format is honeycomb, between two facings or skins made from several prepreg material layers.  Nevertheless in order to obtain an adequate adherence between core and prepreg most of thermoset resin systems need the presence of a film adhesive placed among the core and prepreg to favour the adhesive menisci formation inside core cells. Main benefit asociate to autoadhesive prepregs usage in sandwich parts is adhesive elimination from part configuration which translates in a weight reduction of the structure. Present article is centered in autoadhesive prepreg materials 180º cure. After more than 3 years of work with several composite materials manufacturers and AIRBUS, key process parameters in an industrial environment have been defined along with basic characteristics in order to guarantee internal quality of the elements

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