Rapid Cure Composites: Materials, Processing and Manufacturing

This book covers in detail the chemistry, processing, structure, and performance of rapid cured composites. Polymer composites are widely used in several industries, including aerospace, automobile, spray and coatings, and electronics, due to their lightweight and superior mechanical properties. However, one of the dominant hurdles towards their growth in commercial industries is the long curing cycle and slow production. Over the last decade, several studies have reported the synthesis of new matrix materials, as well as changes in the style of manufacturing, and the use of hybrid technologies leading to fast curing and consolidation of composites, however, there is still significant inconsistency around the topic. Rapid Cure Composites: Materials, Processing and Manufacturing presents a detailed review of traditional and rapid manufacturing processes and up-to-date information on the design criteria to formulate matrix systems for rapid curing. Emphasis is placed on the role the different materials (e.g., resin compound and fiber reinforcement) play in developing fast-curing composites, the assessment of current and novel manufacturing techniques for adapting fast curing processes, the comparison between conventional curing and rapid curing, and different applications in various industrial sectors (e.g., aerospace, automotive, renewables, and marine). The book will be an essential reference resource for academic and industrial researchers working in the field of composite materials, processing and manufacturing organizations, materials scientists, polymer engineers, chemists, and technologists