A new impregnation tool for on-line manufacturing of thermoplastic composites

摘要

With a newly developed impregnation tool it is possible to produce thermoplastic intermediate composite material forms such as tapes and/or to manufacture on-line, i. e. in one processing step, thermoplastic composite components. The impregnation tool is small in size, so as to be flexible for handling in front of established manufacturing processes such as pultrusion or filament-winding. Fibers and molten polymer matrix will get in contact at the outer surface of the impregnation wheel, which is the centre-picec of the impregnation tool. The molten polymer is provided from a commercial extruder. Testing of the process is illustrated by a combination of impregnation and filament-winding, in order to produce small sized tubes.