Title: Real-Time Monitoring System for Out-Of-Autoclave Composite Manufacturing using Conformal and Continuous Carbon Nanotube Yarns

Authors: Marquese Pollard, Dr. Joshua Degraff, Jason Ward, Dr. Jin Gyu Park, Dr. Richard Liang

DOI: 10.33599/nasampe/c.22.0102

Abstract: High-quality structural composites require an optimal combination of pressure, temperature, and time to ensure desired ply compression, resin flow, impregnation, and curing during fabrication. Composite fabrication process monitoring systems are critical as they optimize and verify the desired processing conditions and parameters during manufacturing. Costs, complexity, and high uncertainty have limited the integration and scalability of production monitoring systems within composite manufacturing. This research harnessed the multifunctionality and high aspect ratio of continuous carbon nanotube yarns (CNTy) into a versatile sensory system embedded directly into the fiber lay-ups. Three CNTy variations, including single-ply, spun, and unspun, were explored and tasked with monitoring the progressive fabrication stages during structural composites manufacturing. The electromechanical and electrothermal property couplings of CNTy were harnessed to detect and monitor the pressure and temperature changes experienced during composite fabrication and strain deformations post-fabrication. While the linear density of the CNTy varied, the flexible yarns provide conformal, minimally invasive sensing features. The invasiveness of sensing systems using yarns prevents voids, which are notable impediments to the mechanical performance of composite materials. The CNTy in this report can detect pressure, temperature, viscoelastic changes to the composite during fabrication, and strain implicating a unique alternative solution to promote a scalable monitoring system within the fiber layers that can refine out-of-autoclave composites manufacturing processes and also serve as an embedded life cycle monitoring system with its strain sensing capabilities

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Conference: CAMX 2022

Publication Date: 2022/10/17

SKU: TP22-0000000102

Pages: 15

Price: $30.00