September 2024
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57 Reads
Due to the aircraft market outlook, industry desires single-aisle composite aircraft production of 80 airplanes per month to meet projected demand by 2040. This will require production rates to be four to six times greater than currently possible. Resin infusion is a manufacturing method that has potential to enable fabrication and assembly of large primary structures at the desired rates. The resin influences the total time required to complete the infusion and curing process and contributes to the performance of the resulting composite. Currently approved resins for resin infusion processes do not cure rapidly enough to support the rates needed for 80 airplane deliveries per month. One approach is to design isothermal resins that reduce processing times. These are resins that can be infused and cured at the same temperature. This method enables shorter, energy efficient processing cycles by eliminating temperature ramps that would otherwise be required during or in between part fabrication. In this paper, data will be presented to demonstrate the potential of using isothermal rapid curing resins to produce composites with aerospace performance characteristics.