processing of thermoplastic composite structures gabriel gumede department of mechanical engineering...
TRANSCRIPT
Processing of Thermoplastic Composite Structures
Gabriel Gumede
Department of Mechanical EngineeringDurban University of Technology
November 2007
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Introduction
• What is Thermoplastic compositeThermoplastic :Deformable, melts to liquid and freezes to brittle glass
state.Recyclable (remelted and remoulded).
Composite :Material made from two or more materials with different physical or chemical properties and remain separate
and distinct within the finished structure.
Thermoplastic composite is a recyclable, reinforced plastic material.
• Polymeric composite application
Automotive, aerospace, marine, civil construction, sports, and many others.
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• Autoclaving
Enhances composite bonding and curing.
• Resin Transfer Moulding
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Work already done
• Kunihiko Murayama - orietation control of short fibres in a - liquid matrix by loading a magnetic field. - Nickel coated graphite fibre - ultrasonic vibration
• Liu and Chen developed water-assisted injection moulding technology. Water penetrates into the core of the composite and pushes the material into the mould wall thereby aligning the fibres in the mould direction.
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Manufacturing Processes
• Pultrusion
• Extrusion moulding
• Compression moulding
• Injection moulding
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Modified Pultrusion/Extrusion Moulding Process
creel
Fibre spreader
Heater rollers
Impregnating toolWith rollers
chiller
Pullers
Winder
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Thermoplastic Pellets (TP)
Glass fibres
Process Chart
Modified Pultrusion TP with glass fibres
Heating
Extrusion
Hot pressing
Components
Injection moulding
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Fibre Orientation
• Factors affecting fibre orientation
Moulding processes
Gates, Initial Charge and Part Geometry
Thickness of the moulded part
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Outline of Research
• Develop a technique of aligning glass fibres using extrusion, injection and compression moulding processes.
• Optimise the mechanical properties by controlling the fibre orientation.
• Determine critical fibre length
• Produce complex shaped reinforced thermoplastic composite components.
• Test and analyse reinforced thermoplastic components.