The Effect of Induced Vibration on Thermoplastic Composite System

Abstract:

Thermoplastic composite manufacturing is often difficult due to high viscosity of the matrix materials. Coupling a high level of mechanical properties with simple, low-cost processing technique is a difficult subject, but an important task for any state-of-the-art impregnation processes. In this paper, Thermoplastic Prepreg Fabrication Technology is utilized to prepare thermoplastic tapes and the technology's effect on strain energy absorption was investigated. The tape was prepared under three categories: first, with induced vibration and no fiber preheat (NV), second, without vibration and fiber preheat (HN) and last, with both fiber preheat and vibration (HV). For the purpose of comparison, all other variables such as pulling speed, fiber tension, fiber preheat and processing temperature were kept constant. The HV category showed improvement in the strain energy absorption by 10 and 23% when compared to HN and NV, respectively. In addition, HV had better wetting, fiber spread and dispersion. Fiber preheating is important as it worked well with vibration possibly due to good fiber spread on the HV category (widest tape). Also, HV had the least fiber volume fraction as it takes more matrix volume when exiting the die plate.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 704)
• Pages: 39-47
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.704.39
• Online since: December 2014
• Authors: Mohammed Al Ghamedi, Lidvin Kjerengtroen, Jon J. Kellar, William M. Cross, Selvin P. Thomas
• Keywords: Direct ReInforcment Fabrication Technology, Impact Testing, Strain Energy Absorption, Thermoplastic Composites

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