New Technique Of Plastic Mould For Thermoset Composite Fabrication.
NEW TECHNIQUE OF PLASTIC MOULD FOR
THERMOSET COMPOSITE FABRICATION
MOHAMAD MUSTAQIIM B. CHE HASSAN
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UNIVERSITI TEKNIKAL MALAYSIA MELAKA
NEW TECHNIQUE OF PLASTIC MOULD FOR THERMOSET
COMPOSITE FABRICATION
This report submitted in accordance with requirement of the Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) for the Bachelor Degree of Manufacturing Engineering
(Engineering Materials) with Honours.
by
MOHAMAD MUSTAQIIM BIN CHE HASSAN
FACULTY OF MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING 2010
(3)
UNIVERSITI TEKNIKAL MALAYSIA MELAKA
BORANG PENGESAHAN STATUS LAPORAN PROJEK SARJANA MUDA
TAJUK: New Technique of Plastic Mould for Thermoset Composite Fabrication SESI PENGAJIAN: 2009/2010 Semester 1
Saya MOHAMAD MUSTAQIIM BIN CHE HASSAN
mengaku membenarkan Laporan PSM ini disimpan di Perpustakaan Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) dengan syarat-syarat kegunaan seperti berikut:
1. Laporan PSM adalah hak milik Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka dan penulis. 2. Perpustakaan Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka dibenarkan membuat salinan untuk
tujuan pengajian sahaja dengan izin penulis.
3. Perpustakaan dibenarkan membuat salinan laporan PSM ini sebagai bahan pertukaran antara institusi pengajian tinggi.
4. **Sila tandakan (√)
√ SULIT
TERHAD
TIDAK TERHAD
(Mengandungi maklumat yang berdarjah keselamatan atau kepentingan Malaysia yang termaktub di dalam AKTA RAHSIA RASMI 1972)
(Mengandungi maklumat TERHAD yang telah ditentukan oleh organisasi/badan di mana penyelidikan dijalankan)
Alamat Tetap:
Lot 4720, Kg. Tersusun Bt. 6, 31150 Ulu Kinta,
Ipoh, Perak.
Tarikh: 20 April 2010
Disahkan oleh:
Cop Rasmi:
Tarikh: 20 April 2010
** Jika Laporan PSM ini SULIT atau TERHAD, sila lampirkan surat daripada pihak berkuasa/organisasi berkenaan dengan menyatakan sekali sebab dan tempoh laporan PSM ini perlu dikelaskan sebagai SULIT atau TERHAD.
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DECLARATION
I hereby, declared this report entitled “New Technique of Plastic Mould For Thermoset Composite Fabrication” is the results of my own research except as cited
in references.
Signature : ………
Author’s Name : MOHAMAD MUSTAQIIM B. CHE HASSAN
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APPROVAL
This report is submitted to the Faculty of manufacturing Engineering of UTeM as a partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Manufacturing Engineering (Engineering Materials) with Honours. The member of the supervisory committee is as follow:
... (Principal Supervisor) (Mohd Yuhazri Bin Yaakob)
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i
ABSTRACT
This research relates to a new technique of plastic mould for thermoset composite fabrication. Currently mild steel, wood and aluminium are as the moulds for moulding the plastic products as they hard and tough. However these moulds require high tooling cost and some complex shapes cannot be produced. Thus, this research is a development of new technique that used plastic as the moulds. The plastic that was used is PVC film from thermoplastic material. For manufacturing the thermoset composite, a new technique was developed from Vacuum Assisted Resin Infusion Moulding (VARIM) process but different from the moulds. Both of the upper and bottom mould used were flexible moulds from PVC film. A polyester resin was used as the matrices and fibreglass was used as the reinforcement for manufacture the thermoset composite. Lastly, after the composite were produced they had been inspected for quality assurance to measure the successful of this new technique of plastic mould. These involved mould capability, surface quality of the resulted composite and manufacturing complexity based on three experimental product designs that had been decided which are simple design, medium design and complex design. In general, the results showed that this new technique of plastic mould for thermoset composite fabrication was successfully produced and feasible for fabrication trial products or a small quantity of productions with reducing the manufacturing costs. The new technique of plastic mould also increases most of the mechanical properties of the thermoset composite than if they were produced by hand lay up technique or vacuum infusion technique. In addition, the plastic mould can also be repeated for almost 8 times. Due to that this technique significantly reduced the tooling cost and time for making the mould.
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ii
ABSTRAK
Kajian ini melibatkan pembangunan teknik menghasilkan komposit termoset di mana acuan yang digunakan ialah daripada bahan plastik. Kebiasaannya, bahan acuan mestilah lebih kuat dan keras dari bahan yang akan dihasilkan seperti acuan dari besi, kayu dan aluminium. Akan tetapi, bahan acuan tersebut memerlukan kos yang tinggi dan tidak sesuai dalam menghasilkan produk yang mempunyai bentuk yang kompleks. Berdasarkan masalah tersebut, kajian ini merupakan pembangunan teknik baru yang akan menggunakan plastik sebagai bahan acuan. Plastik yang akan digunakan adalah filem PVC daripada bahan termoplastik. Untuk menghasilkan komposit termoset, proses yang akan digunakan mirip dengan proses Vacuum
Assisted Resin Infusion Moulding (VARIM) tetapi berbeza daripada segi bahan
acuan. Bahan acuan yang fleksibel iaitu filem PVC dan resin poliester digunakan sebagai bahan pengikat untuk menghasilkan termoset komposit. Akhir sekali, setelah komposit dihasilkan, ianya akan diperiksa untuk mengukur kejayaan teknik baru ini. Ianya melibatkan keupayaan bahan acuan ini, kualiti permukaan termoset yang dihasilkan dan kesukaran penghasilan berdasarkan pada tiga jenis model eksperimen yang telah diputuskan iaitu reka bentuk mudah, reka bentuk sederhana dan reka bentuk kompleks. Secara umum, hasil yang diperolehi membuktikan bahawa teknik baru ini yang menggunakan bahan acuan daripada plastik untuk menghasilkan komposit termoset berjaya dibangunkan dan sesuai untuk pembuatan produk percubaan dan sejumlah kecil produk dengan mengurangkan kos pengeluaran. Komposit termoset yang dihasilkan melalui teknik ini menunjukkan peningkatan bagi sifat mekanikal komposit tersebut dan cuan plastik yang digunakan dapat diguna pakai sehingga 8 kali. Oleh itu, ianya dapat menjimatkan kos peralatan dan masa yang diperlukan untuk menghasilkan acuan.
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iii
DEDICATION
To my family; Hassan Ishak, Aini Hamzah, Zureen Hassan and Jannah Hassan who is always there when it matters,
to all my friends,
for the big things and little ones. every hour, every moment of every day, I will always love you all with my heart and love...
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iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Alhamdulillah, thankful to Allah S.W.T and the prophet Nabi Muhammad S.A.W. with the power and permission from Allah I have finished my research proposal on the specified deadline.
Firstly, I would like to thank to my supervisor, En. Mohd Yuhazri B. Yaakob who is always guides me in this research. Much knowledge about the composite and manufacturing processes that I had learned throughout my research period. All the practical work and experience gained in this research pose precious value as bits and pieces of my working experience which will be ultimately helpful in my future endeavours.
Lastly, my heartfelt appreciation also goes to my family, my friends and everybody in UTeM for their help and knowledge they give to me. Their advices and cooperation had helped me a lot throughout my research and I am forever grateful for that. May Allah bless you all always.
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v
TABLE OF CONTENT
CHAPTER
TOPIC
PAGES
Abstract Abstrak Dedication
Acknowledgement iv
Table of Content v
List of Tables vii
List of Figures viii
List of Abbreviations
List of Symbols ix
i ii iii iv v ix x xii xiv
1.0 INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Background 1
1.2 Problem Statement 2
1.3 Objectives 3
1.4 Scope 3
1.5 Rational of Research 4
1.6 Research Methodology 5
1.7 Thesis Frame 6
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW 8
2.1 Introduction 8
2.2 Previous Invention of Plastic Mould 10
2.3 Mould 12
2.4 Plastic Materials 13
2.4.1 Thermoplastics 13
2.4.1.1 PVC Film 14
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vi
2.4.2.1 Polyester Resin 18
2.4.2.2 Epoxy Resins 19
2.4.2.3 Summary of Resin 19
2.5 Fibres 20
2.6 Overview of Thermoset Composite Fabrication 21
2.6.1 Hand Lay Up Process 21
2.6.2 Spray Up Process 22
2.6.3 Vacuum Bag Autoclave Process 23 2.6.4 Resin Transfer Moulding Process 25 2.6.5 Vacuum Assisted Resin Infusion
Moulding (VARIM) Process
26
2.6.6 Summary of Thermoset Composite Fabrication
28
2.7 Non Destructive Testing 29
2.7.1 Visual Inspection 29
3.0 METHODOLOGY 30
3.1 Introduction 30
3.2 Methodology of Flow Chart 30
3.3 Materials Selection 31
3.3.1 PVC Film 32
3.3.2 Polyester Resin 33
3.4 Process Equipments 35
3.4.1 Woven roving fibreglass type E 35
3.4.2 Polyester resin 35
3.4.3 Hardener (MEKP) 35
3.4.4 Released agent / gel coat 36
3.4.5 Plastic tape 36
3.4.6 Vacuum pump 36
3.4.7 Resin trap 36
3.4.8 Spherical tube 37
3.4.9 PU tube 37
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vii
3.5.1 Design 1: Simple Design 38
3.5.2 Design 2: Medium Design 38
3.5.3 Design 3: Complex Design 39
3.6 Processing 40
3.6.1 Original VARIM Process 40
3.6.2 Modification on VARIM Process 41
3.6.2.1 Procedures 44
3.7 Testing of the Product 45
3.7.1 Mould Capability 46
3.7.2 Surface Finish Quality 46
3.7.3 Complexity Manufacturing 48
4.0 EXPERIMENTAL WORKS OF NEW TECHNIQUE
49
4.1 Introduction 49
4.2 Experimental Procedure 49
4.2.1 Simple Design Fabrication 50
4.2.2 Medium Design 52
4.2.3 Complex Design 54
5.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 58
5.1 Introduction 58
5.2 Mould Capability Analysis 59
5.3 Surface Quality Analysis 62
5.4 Complexity Manufacturing Analysis 67
5.4.1 Design 1: Simple Design 68
5.4.2 Design 2: Medium Design 68
5.4.3 Design 3: Complex Design 69
5.5 Mechanical Properties Analysis 70
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viii
6.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 74
6.1 Conclusion 74
6.2 Recommendations 76
REFERENCES 77
APPENDICES
A PSM 1 Gantt Chart 83
B PSM 2 Gantt Chart 84
C Process Equipments and Materials 85
D Plastic Mould 87
E Experimental Work 88
F Final Composite 89
G Surface Roughness Result on Final Composite 90
H Award 91
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ix
LIST OF TABLES
NO
TITLES
PAGES
2.1 Physical properties of PVC 15
2.2 Physical properties of PVC films 16
2.3 Some characteristics and uses of epoxy and polyester thermosets
20
3.1 PVC film specification 33
5.1 Non repeated equipments price comparison 60
5.2 Repeated equipments price comparison 61
5.3 Surface roughness result 63
5.4 Comparison on the mechanical properties of the sample composites from different techniques
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x
LIST OF FIGURES
NO
TITLES
PAGES
1.1 Research methodology flowchart 5
2.1 Repeating chemical structural unit of PVC 15
2.2 Fibreglass type E 20
2.3 Hand lay up process 22
2.4 Spray up process 23
2.5 Vacuum bag autoclave process 24
2.6 Resin transfer moulding process 25
2.7 Vacuum assisted resin infusion moulding (VARIM) process 27 3.1 Methodology of flowchart for developing a new technique
of plastic mould for thermoset composite fabrication
31
3.2 PVC film 32
3.3 Polyester resin 33
3.4 Methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP) hardener 34
3.5 Rectangular shape as a simple design 38
3.6 Round kitchen sink as a medium design 38
3.7 Jimny back door as a complex design 39
3.8 Schematic illustration of the vacuum assisted resin infusion moulding (VARIM) process
40
3.9 Setup in a new technique of plastic mould for thermoset composite fabrication.
42
3.10 Process flow chart of the new technique. 44
3.11 Portable surface roughness taste, SJ-301 47
4.1 Release agent is applied to the mould 50
4.2 Fabrication process on simple design 51
4.3 Final product of simple design 52
4.4 Gel coat is applied on the frying pan 52
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xi
4.6 The final product in the shape of round sink 54
4.7 The Suzuki Jimny back door 54
4.8 General sequence of producing the Jimny back door 55 4.9 The PVC film successfully followed the Jimny dimension 56
4.10 The results of the Jimny 56
5.1 Surface roughness measurement 62
5.2 Graph of surface roughness result 64
5.3 Misaligned defect in composite product 65
5.4 Non uniform resin distribution in simple design fabrication 66 5.5 Non uniform resin distribution in complex design fabrication 67 5.6 Rectangular shape; (a) original design, (b) actual product 68
5.7 Round kitchen sink; (a) original design, (b) actual product 68 5.8 Suzuki Jimny back door; (a) original design, (b) actual
product
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xii
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
ABS - Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene BMC - Bulk Moulding Compound
C - Carbon
C - Celsius
CAL - Calibration
FRP - Fibre Reinforced Plastic
g - Gram
GPa - Giga Pascal
H - Hydrogen
Hg - Mercury
I - International
J - Joule
K - Kelvin
kg - Kilogram
kN - Kilo Newton
lb - Pound
m - Metre
MEKP - Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide
mm - Millimetre
MPa - Mega Pascal
NDT - Non Destructive Testing
NR - Non Repeated
PBT - Polybutylene terephthalate PET - Polyethylentherephthalate
PC - Polycarbonate
Psi - Pound per square inch
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xiii PVC - Polyvinyl Chloride
R - Repeated
Ra - Arithmetic mean value
Rq - Root-mean-square average
Ry - Maximum roughness height
Rz - Ten-point height of irregularities RTM - Resin Transfer Moulding
S.D.D - Shore Durometer Type D
SCRIMP - Seemann Composites Resin Infusion Moulding Process SI - International System
SMC - Sheet Moulding Compound
UV - Ultraviolet
VARI - Vacuum Assisted Resin Infusion
VARIM - Vacuum Assisted Resin Infusion Moulding VARTM - Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Moulding VBRTM - Vacuum Bag Resin Transfer Moulding
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xiv
LIST OF SYMBOLS
% - Percent
µ - Micro
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1
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
Within a decade, fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) materials composites were being used by several industries, for example in the automobile industry. Manufacturing of composite materials is very different from metals. This is because when making a metal part, the properties of the virgin material and the finished part are fundamentally unchanged. However for composites, their manufacturing process plays a key role. During composite processing, manufacturer makes not only the part of the desired shape, but also the material itself with specific properties as Coleman, D., et al. (2006) stated that the properties of composite can be changed by varying the type and quantity of its ingredients. Fibre type, length, and mix proportion help determine properties such as strength and rigidity. In addition, resin characteristics can be changed to provide the desired process ability, durability, heat, and corrosion resistance.
However, the lacked of automated and repeatable manufacturing processes drive the cost of composite parts up and limited the number of potential uses. The majority of the manufacturing composite was very labour intensive and not very cost effective. According to the study by Foster, N.G., (1998), in early stages of development, the cost of composite materials was very high and only selected industries involved. They took advantages because of their properties such as light weight and the high strength which outweighed the cost factor.
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2
Many different processes are used to manufacture composite into final products such as sheet, rods, extruded sections, pipe, or finished mould parts. The process used depends to a certain extent on whether the plastic is a thermoplastic or thermoset one. Thermoplastic are usually heated to a soft condition and then reshaped before cooling. On the other hand, thermoset materials not having been completely polymerized before processing to the finished shape use a process by which a chemical reaction occurs to cross link polymer chains into a network polymeric material. The final polymerization can take place by the application of heat and pressure or by catalytic action at room temperature or higher temperatures.
1.2 Problem Statement
This research is focused on new technique of plastic mould for thermoset composite fabrication which it involves development for mould that made from plastic. Then, the mould is used to make the composite products where polyester as the matrix and fibreglass as the reinforcement.
There are generally used a mild steel, tool steel, wood, and aluminium mould for moulding plastic products as they hard and tough. However these moulds require high tooling cost and some complex shapes cannot be produced. The choice of material to build a mould from plastic is primarily one of economics than the steel mould which is generally cost more to construct. Due to intrinsic limitations of steel, a thermoplastic material was selected as replacement material for making the mould. Thermoplastic material provides more strength, dimensional stability, and corrosion resistance than steel, while increasing design flexibility and manufacturing efficiency.
Manufacture of thermoset composite generally using the physics of flows through porous media as the resin viscosity is low enough to move relative to the network of fibre performs which the impregnation of a molten resin into a fibre bundle is easy (Grimsley, B.W., et al., 2001). The apparatus and processes used to make these
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3
structures therefore vary considerably depending upon the specific shape and form of the structure to be produced.
1.3 Objectives
This research focuses to a new technique of plastic mould for thermoset composite fabrication. It involves development for mould made from plastic which is fast, uses inexpensive tooling and provides a wide variety of curved and contour shaping in the moulded article. On the other hand, the objectives also to invent new technique that can reduce costs and efficient for moulding trial products or a small quantity of productions.
1.4 Scope
The research had been conducted within the following scope:
(a) PVC film from thermoplastic material as the plastic mould.
(b) Polyester resin from thermoset material as the matrices for composite material.
(c) The development from vacuum assisted resin infusion moulding process was approached in this research for thermoset composite fabrication. (d) Limits on the strength and toughness analysis of the mould.
(e) Limits on the strength and toughness analysis of the composite product. (f) Study the quality of the final composite products.
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4 1.5 Rational of Research
Composite materials containing fibre bundles or flakes as reinforcements in a thermoset resin matrix. Thermoset composites provide more strength, dimensional stability, and corrosion resistance than metals, while increasing design flexibility and manufacturing efficiency. In addition Coleman, D., et al. (2006) highlighted that thermoset composite structures have long life spans and low maintenance requirements. Due to the intrinsic limitations of metals many design engineers utilize thermoset composites as a metal replacement material for high performance applications.
Manufacture of thermoset composite generally requires high strength precision but it is well known that the impregnation of a molten resin into a fibre bundle is easy. The apparatus and processes used to make these structures therefore vary considerably depending upon the specific shape and form of the structure to be produced. A technique that was developed from Vacuum Assisted Resin Infusion Moulding (VARIM) process had been used to form fibre reinforced plastic structures. In this technique, flexible moulds are used to cover the pattern and vacuum serves to shape the mould, to draw the resin through the fibreglass and to remove any air. Traditionally, moulds have been expensive to manufacture. They were usually only used in mass production where thousands of parts were being produced. There are generally used a mild steel, tool steel, wood, and aluminium mould for moulding plastic products as they hard and tough. However this type of mould requires high tooling cost and some complex shapes cannot be produced.
The choice of material to build a mould from plastic is primarily one of economics and easy for processing. With the advantage and limitations of the thermoplastic and thermoset material, they offer the composite industry a spectrum of choice which gives the opportunity for further expansion of the industry as a whole (Munirah, M., 1995). Thus, the objective of the research is to provide plastic moulds having good in durability to be used for thermoset composite fabrication.
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5 1.6 Research Methodology
Figure 1.1 shows the flowchart of the research. The flow is summarized by defining the steps taken in order to fulfil the objectives for this research. There are generally five major steps need to be concentrated at in ensuring the research run smoothly.
As shown in the Figure 1.1, the steps need to be put in order where it consists of material selection, parameter selection, processing, testing, and analysis of data collected.
Figure 1.1: Research methodology flowchart.
In material selection steps, plastic material had been identified in this research. Plastic are a large and varied group of synthetic materials that are processed by forming or moulding into shape. Plastics can be divided into two classes, thermoplastics and thermoset materials, depending on how they are structurally chemically bonded. In this research, PVC film from thermoplastic material will be used as the material for moulds and polyester from thermoset material will be used as the matrices in the composite.
Analysis and Conclusion Material Selection
Parameter Selection
Processing
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LIST OF SYMBOLS
% - Percent
µ - Micro
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CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
Within a decade, fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) materials composites were being used by several industries, for example in the automobile industry. Manufacturing of composite materials is very different from metals. This is because when making a metal part, the properties of the virgin material and the finished part are fundamentally unchanged. However for composites, their manufacturing process plays a key role. During composite processing, manufacturer makes not only the part of the desired shape, but also the material itself with specific properties as Coleman, D., et al. (2006) stated that the properties of composite can be changed by varying the type and quantity of its ingredients. Fibre type, length, and mix proportion help determine properties such as strength and rigidity. In addition, resin characteristics can be changed to provide the desired process ability, durability, heat, and corrosion resistance.
However, the lacked of automated and repeatable manufacturing processes drive the cost of composite parts up and limited the number of potential uses. The majority of the manufacturing composite was very labour intensive and not very cost effective. According to the study by Foster, N.G., (1998), in early stages of development, the cost of composite materials was very high and only selected industries involved. They took advantages because of their properties such as light weight and the high strength which outweighed the cost factor.
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Many different processes are used to manufacture composite into final products such as sheet, rods, extruded sections, pipe, or finished mould parts. The process used depends to a certain extent on whether the plastic is a thermoplastic or thermoset one. Thermoplastic are usually heated to a soft condition and then reshaped before cooling. On the other hand, thermoset materials not having been completely polymerized before processing to the finished shape use a process by which a chemical reaction occurs to cross link polymer chains into a network polymeric material. The final polymerization can take place by the application of heat and pressure or by catalytic action at room temperature or higher temperatures.
1.2 Problem Statement
This research is focused on new technique of plastic mould for thermoset composite fabrication which it involves development for mould that made from plastic. Then, the mould is used to make the composite products where polyester as the matrix and fibreglass as the reinforcement.
There are generally used a mild steel, tool steel, wood, and aluminium mould for moulding plastic products as they hard and tough. However these moulds require high tooling cost and some complex shapes cannot be produced. The choice of material to build a mould from plastic is primarily one of economics than the steel mould which is generally cost more to construct. Due to intrinsic limitations of steel, a thermoplastic material was selected as replacement material for making the mould. Thermoplastic material provides more strength, dimensional stability, and corrosion resistance than steel, while increasing design flexibility and manufacturing efficiency.
Manufacture of thermoset composite generally using the physics of flows through porous media as the resin viscosity is low enough to move relative to the network of fibre performs which the impregnation of a molten resin into a fibre bundle is easy (Grimsley, B.W., et al., 2001). The apparatus and processes used to make these
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structures therefore vary considerably depending upon the specific shape and form of the structure to be produced.
1.3 Objectives
This research focuses to a new technique of plastic mould for thermoset composite fabrication. It involves development for mould made from plastic which is fast, uses inexpensive tooling and provides a wide variety of curved and contour shaping in the moulded article. On the other hand, the objectives also to invent new technique that can reduce costs and efficient for moulding trial products or a small quantity of productions.
1.4 Scope
The research had been conducted within the following scope:
(a) PVC film from thermoplastic material as the plastic mould.
(b) Polyester resin from thermoset material as the matrices for composite material.
(c) The development from vacuum assisted resin infusion moulding process was approached in this research for thermoset composite fabrication. (d) Limits on the strength and toughness analysis of the mould.
(e) Limits on the strength and toughness analysis of the composite product. (f) Study the quality of the final composite products.
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1.5 Rational of Research
Composite materials containing fibre bundles or flakes as reinforcements in a thermoset resin matrix. Thermoset composites provide more strength, dimensional stability, and corrosion resistance than metals, while increasing design flexibility and manufacturing efficiency. In addition Coleman, D., et al. (2006) highlighted that thermoset composite structures have long life spans and low maintenance requirements. Due to the intrinsic limitations of metals many design engineers utilize thermoset composites as a metal replacement material for high performance applications.
Manufacture of thermoset composite generally requires high strength precision but it is well known that the impregnation of a molten resin into a fibre bundle is easy. The apparatus and processes used to make these structures therefore vary considerably depending upon the specific shape and form of the structure to be produced. A technique that was developed from Vacuum Assisted Resin Infusion Moulding (VARIM) process had been used to form fibre reinforced plastic structures. In this technique, flexible moulds are used to cover the pattern and vacuum serves to shape the mould, to draw the resin through the fibreglass and to remove any air. Traditionally, moulds have been expensive to manufacture. They were usually only used in mass production where thousands of parts were being produced. There are generally used a mild steel, tool steel, wood, and aluminium mould for moulding plastic products as they hard and tough. However this type of mould requires high tooling cost and some complex shapes cannot be produced.
The choice of material to build a mould from plastic is primarily one of economics and easy for processing. With the advantage and limitations of the thermoplastic and thermoset material, they offer the composite industry a spectrum of choice which gives the opportunity for further expansion of the industry as a whole (Munirah, M., 1995). Thus, the objective of the research is to provide plastic moulds having good in durability to be used for thermoset composite fabrication.
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1.6 Research Methodology
Figure 1.1 shows the flowchart of the research. The flow is summarized by defining the steps taken in order to fulfil the objectives for this research. There are generally five major steps need to be concentrated at in ensuring the research run smoothly.
As shown in the Figure 1.1, the steps need to be put in order where it consists of material selection, parameter selection, processing, testing, and analysis of data collected.
Figure 1.1: Research methodology flowchart.
In material selection steps, plastic material had been identified in this research. Plastic are a large and varied group of synthetic materials that are processed by forming or moulding into shape. Plastics can be divided into two classes, thermoplastics and thermoset materials, depending on how they are structurally chemically bonded. In this research, PVC film from thermoplastic material will be used as the material for moulds and polyester from thermoset material will be used as the matrices in the composite.
Analysis and Conclusion Material Selection
Parameter Selection
Processing