Glass Fiber Permeability Using the VARTM Process

This study investigated a flow rate control system for the vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process. Using Darcy’s equation, the permeability of multiaxial glass fiber composites is predicted and experimentally confirmed. The resin velocity vector is inversely proportional to the fiber mat length and resin viscosity, but proportional to the fiber mat permeability. In this study, the permeability of the preform and viscosity of the epoxy resin were measured using multiaxial glass fiber by VARTM. The permeability and time for impregnation differed according to the fiber direction in the VARTM process. The results indicated the need for further study of reinforcement fiber permeability in VARTM processing design.