Pressure transfer behaviour of rubber mould and the effects on consolidation of L-shape composite laminates

A rubber mould is a crucial component for manufacturing resin matrix composite parts with complex structure, especially for autoclave process. This paper presents the experimental investigations on pressure transfer behaviour of a rubber mould. In order to measure the pressure distribution on the mould surface during processing to characterize the pressure transfer properties of rubber mould, a novel method was established using a kind of pressure sensitive paper. By means of this technique, it was found that obvious uneven pressure distribution appears on the interface between an L-shape rubber male mould and an aluminium die in autoclave process, including corner and flat sections. Moreover, the rubber modulus significantly affects the pressure distribution. Based on these results, the effects of rubber mould on the consolidation of L-shape composite laminates were studied, and there is a close relationship between the consolidation of composite laminates and the pressure transfer property of rubber mould. These results are valuable for studying defect formation and controlling the processing of complex composite structures in rubber mould assisted autoclave processes.