The final mechanical properties of composite laminates are highly dependent on their curing cycles in the autoclave. During this cycle, the temperature, pressure, vacuum, and treatment time will influence the quality of manufactured parts. The void content is considered the most harmful defects in carbon/epoxy laminates since they weaken the matrix-dominated mechanical properties such as interlaminar shear and compressive strengths. In the present work, differential scanning calorimetry is used to characterize the influence of time/temperature on the behavior of the epoxy resin. Then, a series of [0/90/−45/+45]s laminates composites are autoclave-cured under various applied pressures to evaluate their impact on microstructure and mechanical properties. The interlaminar shear modulus, interlaminar shear strength, laminate compressive modulus, and laminate compressive strength at room and operating engine temperature were measured. The correlation between microstructure and mechanical properties was also studied. The mechanical properties of manufactured carbon/epoxy laminates are found to be dependent on pressure and microstructure. These results are explored to establish an optimal autoclave pressure route that would minimize porosity without counterbalancing mechanical properties.

复合层压板的最终机械性能高度依赖于它们在高压釜中的固化周期。在这个循环过程中，温度、压力、真空度和处理时间都会影响制造零件的质量。空隙含量被认为是碳/环氧树脂层压板中最有害的缺陷，因为它们削弱了以基体为主的机械性能，如层间剪切和压缩强度。在目前的工作中，差示扫描量热法用于表征时间/温度对环氧树脂行为的影响。然后，一系列 [0/90/-45/+45]s 层压复合材料在各种施加压力下进行高压釜固化，以评估它们对微观结构和机械性能的影响。层间剪切模量、层间剪切强度、层压板压缩模量、测量了室温和工作发动机温度下的层压板抗压强度。还研究了微观结构和机械性能之间的相关性。发现制造的碳/环氧树脂层压板的机械性能取决于压力和微观结构。探索这些结果以建立最佳高压釜压力路线，该路线将在不平衡机械性能的情况下最小化孔隙率。