146 Int. J. Computational Materials Science and Surface Engineering, Vol. 2, No. 1/2, 2009 Copyright © 2009 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. An investigation into the microstructure and mechanical properties of a 3D fibre reinforced advanced composite with an enhanced fibre volume fraction G.F. Stewart,* Alistair T. McIlhagger, Justin P. Quinn and Scott King School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Composite Research Centre (ECRE), Room 6C31, University of Ulster at Jordanstown, Shore Road, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim BT370QB, UK E-mail: stewart-g2@email.ulster.co.uk E-mail: a.mcilhagger@ulster.ac.uk E-mail: jp.quinn@ulster.ac.uk E-mail: scott_king@beaerospace.com *Corresponding author Abstract: Industries such as Aerospace, Marine, Automotive and Construction are now embracing advanced composites processed using resin infusion techniques. These composites consist of complex fibrous reinforcements and polymeric matrices. They hold the promise of lower costs and equivalent or greater performance than composites produced via more expensive traditional techniques such as autoclaving and as a result are gaining increasing acceptance. One such material is a 3D fibre reinforced composite which possesses superior strength and stiffness in the Through-The-Thickness (T-T-T) direction compared to 2D composites due to their T-T-T binder tows. However, due to the T-T-T binder it is harder to achieve the required high fibre Volume Fraction (V f ) for optimum performance. This paper investigates a 3D fibre reinforced composite and how it’s structure and mechanical properties are affected by increasing V f . Keywords: 3D composites; V f ; volume fraction; VARTM; vacuum assisted resin transfer moulding. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Stewart, G.F., Mcllhagger, A.T., Quinn, J.P. and King, S. (2009) ‘An investigation into the microstructure and mechanical properties of a 3D fibre reinforced advanced composite with an enhanced fibre volume fraction’, Int. J. Computational Materials Science and Surface Engineering, Vol. 2, No. 1/2, pp.146–154. Biographical notes: G.F. Stewart received his BEng Honours in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Ulster in 2004. Currently, he is a PhD candidate in the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering at the Engineering Composites Research Centre. He was recently appointed as a Research Associate in the Engineering Composites Research Centre. His research interests include 3D woven polymeric composites made from renewable and non-renewable resources and thermosetting nanocomposites. Alistair T. McIlhagger a lecturer at the University of Ulster has specific interests in the manufacture of advanced composite for aerospace applications.