The Effect of Post-Curing on Static Flexural Behavior in Carbon-Filled Laminating Epoxy Resins

This study investigates the influence of post-curing on the static flexural behavior of carbon-filled laminating epoxy resins. The research focuses on optimizing the mechanical properties of composite materials for applications in the transportation sector. Using carbon powder as a filler, the study evaluates the effects of varying filler concentrations (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%) and two curing methods – ambient curing and thermal post-curing – on flexural performance. Results demonstrate that filler content significantly impacts the maximal flexural force, with trends varying based on curing conditions. The results show that the optimum amount of CP in the epoxy resin is 20%, at which the highest maximal flexural force of 155.65 N was measured after thermal post-curing, which is almost 10 times improvement over the unfilled epoxy resin after ambient post-curing. Thermal post-curing improves material cohesion, reducing the dependency on filler content. These findings emphasize the importance of precise technological parameters, particularly post-curing, for achieving reliable and high-performance composites. The study provides valuable insights for enhancing lightweight, durable components in transportation and aerospace systems.