Numerical Modeling of Mold Filling and Curing in Non-Isothermal RTM Process (RESEARCH NOTE)

Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) is a composite manufacturing process. A preformed fiber is placed in a closed mold and a viscous resin is injected into the mold. In this paper, a model is developed to predict the flow pattern, extent of reaction and temperature change during filling and curing in a thin rectangular mold. A numerical simulation is presented to predict the free surface and its interactions with heat transfer and cure for flow of a shear-thinning resin through the preformed fiber. Finite difference method with marker and cell procedure has been used for front flow position prediction. To verify the model results, the temperature profiles for preformed fiber have been calculated, and compared with the experimental results of the other researchers. The results showed that, to optimize the better quality of production of composite materials, and also considering the effect of curing on temperature distribution during the process, the heat dispersion term should not be neglected.