Mechanical and thermal properties of multifunctional composites fabricated by vacuum-assisted resin infusion

Multifunctional composites belong to a system of materials that are capable of performing structural and non-structural functions. Among non-load-bearing functionalities, thermal storage capability can find applications in various industries including aerospace. Using such materials in cabin interior shell, passenger seat cover and nacelle, for example, can help to maintain the desired temperature with less energy consumption. This paper reports an experimental study on the development of multifunctional composites that possess excellent mechanical properties and thermal storage capability. Plain weave glass fibre/epoxy laminates incorporated with microencapsulated-Phase Change Materials (micro-PCMs) were fabricated using resin infusion technique to achieve high-quality composite laminates. The fabricated specimens were tested for mechanical and thermal properties. It was found that increasing the concentration of micro-PCMs enhanced the thermal storage capacity of the composite in a rate which was greater than that of the mechanical properties degradation.