Journal of Chromatography & Separation Techniques
Open Access

Gas chromatography: A novel and new technique for on-line cure monitoring studies of carbon-phenolic composite structures

4^th World Congress on Chromatography

August 07-09, 2017 | Rome, Italy

K Veera Brahmam and V Venkateswara Rao

Advanced Systems Laboratory, Hyderabad, India

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Chromatogr Sep Tech

Abstract :

We report the use of gas chromatography technique for on-line cure monitoring of the carbon-phenolic(C-P) composites to identify the gelation region for pressure application to enhance the thermal performance. Experimental trials are made on the laminates prepared by hand lay-up process in autoclave. During curing process methylol-phenol (M-phenol) and water are evolved as reaction by-products and the concentrations of the evolved byproducts are monitored by on-line gas chromatograph connected to autoclave facility. Experimental parameters like sample injection method, sample volume and time of injection have been optimized and m-phenol and water evolution concentrations are monitored as a function of component temperature. M-phenol evolution is more consistent compared to water evolution and therefore based on the falling trend of the methylol phenol concentration a broad region of gelation for pressure application is identified. The region thus identified is further narrowed down based on the diminishing trend of the M-phenol concentration and the experimental analysis of the laminates focusing on resin content and void content. Finally the on-line pressure application criterion was established based on the resin content and void content data. Based on the resin content and the low void content the performance of the C-P structure is evaluated.

Biography :

Email: kveerabrahmam@rediffmail.com