Experimental study of partially-cured Z-pins reinforced foam core composites: K-Cor sandwich structures

This paper presents an experimental study of a novel K-Cor sandwich structure reinforced with partially-cured Z-pins. The influence of pultrusion processing parameters on Z-pins characteristics was studied and the effect of Z-pins on mechanical properties was disclosed. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and optical microscopy (OM) methods were employed to determine the curing degree of as-prepared Z-pins and observe the implanted Z-pins in the K-Cor structure. These partially-cured Z-pins were treated with a stronger bonding link between face sheets and the foam core by means of a hot-press process, thereby decreasing burrs and cracking defects when the Z-pins were implanted into the Rohacell foam core. The results of the out-of-plane tensile tests and the climbing drum peel (CDP) tests showed that K-Cor structures exhibited superior mechanical performance as compared to X-Cor and blank foam core. The observed results of failure modes revealed that an effective bonding link between the foam core and face sheets that was provided from partially-cured Z-pins contributed to the enhanced mechanical performances of K-Cor sandwich structures.