Date of Award

5-1990

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to investigate if production of composites through use of the vacuum bag forming would result in different levels of styrene emission than the use of the hand lay-up process.

The following objectives were outlined:

  1. To test styrene emission levels in a controlled setting by using both hand lay-up and vacuum bag forming processes

  2. To determine significant differences in styrene emissions between the two processes

  3. To research and develop a vacuum bag forming device which will conform to those used in industry

Quasi-experimental research design was utilized by producing twelve composite samples; six were vacuum bag formed, and six were hand lay-up formed. Four air quality samples were gathered during each composite production, for a total of 48 air samples. The data were analyzed statistically to accept or reject the hypotheses at the 0.1 level of significance.

Based on the results of the study, the following conclusions were drawn:

(1) As the study was designed there was no statistical difference of styrene emissions between vacuum bag forming and hand lay-up processing methods. However, with a closer examination of the raw styrene scores, it was discovered that the first two composite productions had much lower styrene emission levels than the remaining ten samples. When reevaluating the statistics without the first two samples it was determined that there was a significant difference of styrene emissions between vacuum bag forming and hand lay-up processing methods; (2) Raw data scores indicated a 53% reduction in styrene emissions with the use of vacuum bag forming over hand lay-up method; (3) Vacuum bag forming resulted in a 17% increase in styrene emissions from the beginning of composite production to the end, compared to a 56% increase of styrene emissions for hand lay-up method .

Recommendations for further research based on the results of the research were:

(1) This study could be duplicated with more composite samples being produced;

(2) This study could be duplicated in a composite industry to determine if difference in styrene emissions are consistent with this -laboratory study.

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