Liquid Injection Molding Process in the Manufacturing of Fibrous Composite Materials: Theory, Advanced Modeling and Engineering Applications

The purpose of this chapter is to provide theoretical and experimental information about polymer composite manufacturing reinforced with fiber by using Resin Transfer Molding process. It is a process, in which the liquid resin is injected in a closed mold with a fibrous preform inserted. This physical process is similar to the fluid flow in porous media, thus, the process control becomes essential. Here, diverse topics related to this theme, such as, theory, experiments, advanced macroscopic mathematical modeling, in which is included the effect of the resin sorption by fibers, exact solution of the governing equations, and technological applications are presented and well discussed. The study clarifies the importance of the resin sorption effect on the hydrodynamic of the resin flow inside the mold cavity and fibrous preform.