Effect Of Curing Time On The Tensile And Flexural Performance of Hot-Pressed GFRP Composites

Authors : Yalın Yamaç, Çağrı Uzay

Pages : 507-519

Doi:10.54365/adyumbd.1778323

View : 70 | Download : 139

Publication Date : 2025-12-24

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :In this study, glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites were fabricated by hot-pressing at 80 °C and 4-bar pressure for three different curing durations (2 h, 4 h, and 6 h). The fiber volume fraction (Vf) of the laminates was approximately 63%, regardless of curing time, confirming stable consolidation under constant pressure. Mechanical characterization was conducted through tensile and three-point bending tests, and the fracture surfaces were analyzed using stereomicroscopy. The 4-hour cured composites exhibited superior tensile (669.91 MPa) and flexural strength (620.34 MPa) values corresponding to a 12.84% and 41.71% improvement over 2 h curing. Fractographic observations revealed fiber fracture as the dominant failure mechanism in 4 h and 6 h samples, whereas the 2 h samples displayed fiber pullout, delamination, and shear fractures associated with insufficient crosslinking. These findings demonstrate that hot pressing provides effective consolidation and significantly enhances the mechanical performance of GFRP composites. Compared with conventional composite manufacturing techniques, hot pressing was found to be significantly faster, ensuring efficient curing in shorter durations and making the process highly suitable for mass production of epoxy polymer matrix composites. The study highlights 4-hour curing as the most effective duration, offering a balance between strength, toughness, and structural integrity.
Keywords : Cam elyaf, Epoksi reçine, Sıcak presleme, Mekanik özellikler, Kürlenme süresi

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