A Study on the Reduction of Resin Infusion Time and the Enhancement of Interfacial Properties in an Electric-Field-Assisted VaRTM Process

Abstract

In this study, the electrowetting phenomenon was applied to the VaRTM process to reduce resin infusion time and enhance interfacial strength with a simple configuration. A resin infusion experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of the electric field. Resin infusion time and flow front progression were simultaneously recorded to confirm the electrowetting effect under various applied voltages. As a proof of concept, the resin infusion time was measured and compared with that of the conventional resin infusion method. After the fabrication process, the resin impregnation state at the microscopic level was observed using optical microscopy, and the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) was measured to evaluate the interfacial strength. These results confirm the significant potential of the electrowetting-assisted impregnation process for various applications in the composite industry.