Permeability Characterization and Impregnation Strategies with Nanoparticle-Modified Resin Systems

Impregnation processes are dominated by the preform permeability and the resin viscosity. During the impregnation with NP-modified matrices, the NPs may influence not only the resin viscosity, but also the preform permeability significantly due to the increased particle-particle, particle-resin and particle-fiber interactions—in some cases leading even to filtration of the particles and influencing significantly the flow speed and length. The chapter investigates the impregnation characteristic of NP-modified resin systems and provides concepts for impregnation strategies based on experimental and simulation study of the influence of different NP concentration and surface modifications on the impregnation process.