EN 2565:2013

Overview

EN 2565:2013 is a European standard published by CEN that defines the recommended processes for preparing carbon fibre reinforced resin panels specifically for aerospace testing purposes. It covers panels made with unidirectional carbon fibre or fabric impregnated with thermosetting resins. The primary focus of this standard is to ensure consistent, reproducible preparation of test panels from which specimens are machined. These specimens are then used to evaluate various components such as carbon reinforcements, finishes, resins, catalysts, and curing agents, or to verify the quality of finished aerospace products.

This standard supports quality assurance and material characterization in aerospace manufacturing, emphasizing panel preparation techniques to meet stringent testing requirements.

Key Topics

• Scope of Application
  Preparation of panels with any desired unidirectional fibre orientation, using either wet lay-up or prepreg methods, for subsequent machining of test specimens.

• Preparation Methods

  • Method A: Wet lay-up technique involving impregnation of carbon fibres with liquid resin containing catalyst or curing agent, followed by molding under specific temperature and pressure.
  • Method B: Use of prepreg carbon fibre material molded at elevated temperature and pressure.

• Equipment Requirements
  Includes hydraulic or mechanical presses with precise temperature and pressure controls, autoclaves with vacuum capabilities, measuring instruments (rulers, micrometers, balances), and cutting tools.

• Materials
  Metal lay-up plates, metal cover plates, pressure retaining rings, release films (e.g., PVF, PTFE), breather materials, absorption fabrics for excess resin, sealing tapes, and edge materials suitable for curing temperatures.

• Working Procedure
  Conditioning of materials at 23 ± 2 °C and 50 ± 5% relative humidity, controlling resin content, lay-up sequence, curing cycles with temperature and pressure management, post-curing cooling, and panel labelling.

• Quality Control
  Measurement of panel dimensions-length, width, thickness-with specified accuracy. Determination of fibre content by volume and weight using resin digestion, detection of porosity and defects via ultrasonic inspection.

• Reporting
  Documentation of production data including ply details, materials, equipment specifics, curing parameters, dimensional measurements, fibre content, porosity levels, and any special notes.

Applications

• Aerospace Material Testing
  EN 2565 panels serve as the baseline for producing standardized test specimens, enabling reliable assessment of aerospace-grade carbon fibre composites.

• Quality Assurance in Composite Manufacturing
  Ensures that test panels accurately reflect the intended fibre orientation, resin content, and curing quality, which is critical to verifying batch consistency and product compliance.

• Research & Development
  Provides a controlled method to prepare panels for evaluating new resin systems, catalysts, or curing techniques applicable in aerospace composites development.

• Certification and Compliance
  Assists manufacturers and certification bodies in validating that carbon fibre reinforced panels meet rigorous aerospace material standards through standardized preparation and testing.

Related Standards

• EN 2564 - Aerospace series - Carbon fibre laminates - Determination of fibre, resin, and void contents.
  Complements EN 2565 by providing methods to quantify constituent content in prepared panels.

• EN 2743 - Aerospace series - Fibre reinforced plastics - Standard conditioning procedures prior to testing unaged materials.
  Specifies the environmental conditioning requirements referenced in EN 2565 for consistent material preparation.

• Additional Aerospace Composite Standards
  Standards governing testing methods, material specifications, and quality assurance processes for fibre-reinforced polymer composites used in aerospace.

By adhering to EN 2565:2013, aerospace manufacturers and testers can achieve reproducible, high-quality carbon fibre reinforced resin panels essential for robust material testing, product qualification, and ensuring top-tier composite performance in aerospace applications.