Prepreg layer lamination single

Single Prepreg Layer. For the sake of illustration, we shall first confine ourselves to the lamination of one prepreg layer for which the two resin layers are of equal initial thickness ( Ao Ai = A). 

All specimens were made from IM7/977-2 prepreg supplied by Cytec. One single panel, 300 mm X 750 mm was laid up by hand on a warm table because the prepreg was not particularly tacky. Hot de-bulks (vacuum only, 60 C) were carried out after every fourth layer. A 10 p.m FIFE film was inserted in the mid-plane of the laminate in order to simulate an artificial crack. A final pressurised de-bulk (120 C, 3 bar pressure, 30 minutes) was carried out in order to reach a laminate thickness close to neat cured thickness, prior to Z-pinning with 0.28 mm diameter pins (T600/BMI), at densities of 0.5%, 2% and 4% in the selected locations. Table 1 summarises the range of specimens made. 

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