Capillary-driven processing in carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites: From multiscale modeling to advanced manufacturing
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Abstract
The action of capillary pressure plays a crucial role in the formation of voids during the molding process of fiber-reinforced polymer composites. It is primarily driven by surface and interfacial tension, resulting in macroscopic liquid flow controlled by pressure differences. However, due to the influence of microscopic-scale effects, modeling and characterizing the capillary effects in carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites presents significant challenges. This review offers a comprehensive summary of the relevant theories on capillary pressure, including fundamental theory, average capillary pressure theory, and interface enhancement theory. Furthermore, it discusses methods related to contact angle experiments, capillary pressure experiments, and multiscale numerical simulations while illustrating examples of capillary forces in carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites. This paper aims to help readers gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms and applications of the capillary effect in carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites.
Document Type: Invited review
Cited as: Li, Z., Sun, Y., Chen, Y., Liu, Z., Tang, Y., Yang, W. Capillary-driven processing in carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites: From multiscale modeling to advanced manufacturing. Capillarity, 2025, 16(3): 77-86. https://doi.org/10.46690/capi.2025.09.02
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