Optimizing the Vacuum Pressure, Injection point and Mold temperature in RTM process in order to Increase the Mechanical Properties and Minimizing the Production Time

The Resin transfer molding (RTM) process is a closed mold process to produce composite products in mass production. This method includes various parameters such as mold temperature, vacuum pressure, injection point, fiber volume fraction, injection pressure and so on. It is only by controlling these parameters that parts with the desired surface quality and high properties can be achieved. In this study, the effect of input parameters of resin transfer molding process including vacuum pressure, injection point and mold temperature on mold filling time, curing time, tensile strength and flexural strength of carbon-epoxy composite was investigated. Each of the input parameter has been investigated at three levels using the RSM full factorial method. Finally, after making carbon/epoxy composite samples with this process, their evaluation in terms of filling time, curing time and mechanical properties have been investigated. The results showed that the injection point has a significant effect on the mechanical properties and production volume of the part in the Resin transfer molding process. According to the results, the optimal sample was determined by prioritization mechanical properties with mold temperature parameters of 106.7° C, vacuum pressure of 0.83 bar and injection point B (one resin input in the middle of the part and two vacuum outputs at the end of the part). Tensile strength of the sample was 546.7 MPa, flexural strength was 759.2 MPa, curing time was 7.3 minutes and mold filling time was 8.6 minutes by software.