Pressure-assisted RTM Processing for Ablative Composites

The ablative composites made by processing of die molding and tape wrapping have such problems as low interlaminar strength, debonding, poor ablative resistance, and erosion. A new type pressure-assisted RTM processing was presented. Resin filling process was simulated and the ablative composite materials were prepared. The porosity, mechanical property and ablative performance of the composites were tested. The results showed that the pressure-assisted RTM processing was workable and had superiority, and that the porosity, interlaminar shear strength, line ablation rate and mass ablation rate of the composites were 4.64%, 39.3 MPa, 0.017 mm/s and 0.0538 g/s, respectively. The pressure-assisted RTM processing was applicable for moulding ablative composite materials.