Thermoplastic Tape Placement - Challenging the Autoclave Process

摘要

Thermoplastic tape placement is a discontinuous process. Fully impregnated fiber reinforced thermoplastic tapes are laid onto a mold to build up curved or flat structures sequentially. Each tape is melted by a heat source, welded to the layer below, compressed by e.g. a roller, and cooled down below melting temperature. If this is done properly, an in situ consolidation can be achieved, which means no additional consolidation process is needed.