CFRP using braided preforms/RTM process for aircraft applications.

Braiding is one of the useful textile techniques for fabricating near-net-shaped fiber preforms. Automated braided preform fabrication process has been improved. Triaxial braiding was evaluated as a means of reducing the cost of producing airplane framesusing automation technology. A new preforming process was proposed to make the near-net-shaped preforms by using the conventional tubular braiding technique and deforming technique to change the configuration into the near-net-shapes. The preforms were fabricated with carbon fibers by using the new performing process and molded using resin transfer molding (RTM) process with epoxy resin into I-beam frames and panels for investigating mechanical testing and production cost. Mechanical testing and cost analysis indicated that the mechanical properties of the braided composites are superior to those of aluminum materials and that the combination of the braiding and the RTM process is less costly than the hand-lay-up and autoclave process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]