Compacting pressure measuring method in autoclave processing of polymer composites using film sensor

For autoclave processing of polymer composite laminates, a compacting pressure on-line measuring system using film pressure sensor was established to monitor the value and distribution of compacting pressure on composites during processing. The applicability of the compacting pressure measuring system in autoclave processing was studied. The variation of compacting pressure in autoclave processing for L-shaped carbon fiber/epoxy laminates and the effects of mold configurations were investigated using the measuring system. The results show that the measuring system is accurate and is good in dynamic response. It can be used in high temperature and measure the compacting pressure on curved surfaces. These properties meet the requirements of compacting pressure on-line measuring for composites in autoclave processing. The compacting pressures at the corner and in the flat section for L-shaped composite laminates increase with the autoclave pressure during fabrication, but their increasing speeds and the final values are different. The compacting pressure at the corner is larger than that in the flat section during convex tool molding, while the compacting pressure at the corner is less than that in the flat section and the external pressure during concave tool molding. These experimental results demonstrate that the compacting behavior in curved part is different from that in flat structure.