Braided Reinforcements Reduce Material Costs and Molding Cycle Time Making Composite Products More Affordable

摘要

Ever increasing competitive pressures with tradition materials are forcing composite manufacturers to seek innovative ways to reduce costs and improve manufacturing efficiencies. The growing level of interest in and use of advanced fiber architecture fabrics, such as woven, stitched or braided fabrics is a clear sign that this group of materials offers the composite processor a viable alternative to traditional reinforcement approaches. Yet to get the processor to incorporate these fabrics in his laminate is not as easy as one would suppose. With all the advantages of these materials you would think the processors would be standing in line to purchase these materials. One reason they aren't is that it is not as obvious a solution to their problems as one would think. And it takes a more innovative approach to see how easily these materials can be used. This paper seeks to take some of the mystique out of braided fabrics as an easily incorporated solution to lower material costs, higher properties and reduced manufacturing costs.