• Composites Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.45-49
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• 2019

Fiber reinforced composites fabricated by the resin film infusion (RFI) process, which is one of the outof-autoclave process, have the advantage of significantly reducing the processing cost in large structures while having excellent mechanical properties and uniform impregnation of the resin. In this study, we applied RFI carbon fiber composites to unmanned aerial vehicle structures to improve structural safety and achieve weight reduction. The tensile test results showed that the strength was 46% higher than that of generic T300 grade plain weave carbon fiber composites. As a result of the layup design and finite element analysis of the composite wing structure using the above material properties, the wing tip deflection is decreased by 31%, the structural safety factor is increased by 28% and the weight of the entire structure can be reduced by more than 10% compared to the reference model using glass fiber composite material.

• Composites Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2018

The RFI process can be applied to very thick structures without limiting the resin viscosity. When the proper thickness of the resin film cannot be set, the resin film creates either the non-impregnated section or the excessive resin contents and this leads to the deterioration of mechanical properties. Therefore, this study proposed a method for setting the resin film thickness in the RFI process. The fiber compaction behavior test was proposed by setting the proper resin film thickness and the properties of composites were evaluated through short beam shear strength test, compression test and porosity measurement to verify the proposed method. The evaluation of physical properties of composites was conducted and an appropriate level of resin film thickness was found based on the results of fiber compaction behavior test.

• Composites Research
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.395-402
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• 2019

The RFI process is an OoA process that fiber mats and resin films are laminated and cured in a vacuum bag. In case that resin film is insufficient to fill empty space in fibers, it makes void defect in composites and this void decrease mechanical properties of the composites. For this reason, non-destructive testing is usually used to evaluate void of manufactured composites. So, in this study, a manufacturing method of standard void specimens, which are able to be used as references in non-destructive testing, was proposed by controlling resin film thickness in the RFI process. Also, a fiber compaction test was proposed as a method to set the resin film thicknesses depending on target voids of manufacturing panels. The target void panels of 0%, 2%, and 4% were made by the proposed methods, and signal attenuation depending on void was measured by non-destructive testing and image analysis. In addition, voids of specimens for tensile, in-plane, short beam and compressive tests were estimated by signal attenuation, and mechanical properties were evaluated depending on the voids.

• Composites Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.13-18
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• 2010

One of the biggest challenges in the nano-field is how to effectively disperse nano-scale particles, especially CNTs, which are strongly agglomerated by intermolecular van der Waals forces. This study suggests a new method, discharge flocking, in order to disperse nano-scale particles effectively, which combines corona discharge phenomenon and a traditional electrostatic flocking process. In order to evaluate the discharge flocking process, composite specimens were fabricated by the process and RFI(resin film infusion) process, and then the mechanical and electrical properties of the specimens were measured and compared. Moreover, the evaluation of gas discharge effect on the CNTs and epoxy was performed to compare the mechanical and electrical properties of the composite specimens including the plasma treated CNTs. The experimental results showed that the electrical and mechanical properties of the specimens fabricated by the discharge flocking process were similar to those of the RFI process. In addition, plasma treated CNTs were not affected by gas discharge during the discharge flocking process.