Introduction to the Rubber Forming of Thermoplastic Composites

摘要

A thermoforming technique known as rubber forming, developed to processContinuous Fiber Reinforced Thermo Plastics (CFRTP), is presented. To shape thermoplastic composite products, several subprocesses must take place during processing. Some of the thermoforming techniques with which this is currently done are pointed out. The main subprocesses of heating, pressurization, and forming in the rubber forming method are dealt with separately. The shaping of a flat laminate during a rubber forming cycle by the necessary forming forces is discussed. The influence of the process parameters temperature and pressure on the deformation of a thermoplastic laminate is shown to be important. Investigations indicate the large influence of several subprocesses in a rubber forming cycle on the mechanical properties of a CFRTP product. Heat transfer and pressurization were two important research items in the development of the rubber forming technique. They determine the composite product quality and have to be controlled to a high extent.