Thermoplastic matrix composites from towpregs

摘要

In recent years, continuous fibre reinforced thermoplastic matrix composites have beensuccessfully employed in the aircraft, military and aerospace industries due to the excellentproperties (Brandt et al. 1993 & Nunes et al 2005a). In these and many other commercialengineering applications, they can replace other materials, such as thermosetting matrixcomposites. However, the high cost of the impregnation of continuous fibre thermoplasticcomposites, arising from the melting of the polymer or the use of solvents, still restricts theiruse in commercial applications. Hence, cost reduction largely depends on developing moreefficient methods for impregnating fibres with high-viscosity thermoplastics and forprocessing final composite parts.This chapter summarizes the development of new technologies to fabricate long andcontinuous fibre reinforced composite structures from thermoplastic matrix semi-products(towpregs and PCT – pre-consolidated tapes) for commercial and highly demandingmarkets.The production of continuous fibre reinforced thermoplastic matrix towpregs and PCT’swas done using a recently developed coating line (Nunes et al. 2008, 2010 & Silva, R.F. et al.2008).Using this prototype equipment, it was possible to produce glass fibre polypropylene (PP)and polyvinylchloride (PVC) towpregs for commercial markets and towpregs from carbonfibres and Primospire®, an amorphous highly aromatic material developed by SolvayAdvanced Polymers, for application in advanced markets (Nunes et al. 2005, 2009 & Silva, J.F. et al. 2010).To process these thermoplastic pre-pregs into composite structures, conventionalthermosetting equipments were adapted to fabricate thermoplastic matrix composites.Filament winding, pultrusion and hot compression moulding were the studied technologies.The mechanical properties determined on the final composites were compared with thetheoretical predictions and have shown to be acceptable for the targeted markets.As applications, filament wound pressure vessels prototypes for gas and incompressiblefluids were produced from towpregs and submitted to internal pressure burst tests [Silva,J. F. et al. 2008 & Velosa et al. 2009). These prototypes have accomplished all requirements ofthe applicable European standards.