Consolidation of polymer-derived SiC matrix composites: processing and microstructure

SiC fiber reinforced SiC matrix composite (SiC/SiC composite) has been developed by polymer impregnation and pyrolysis (PIP) method, which consists of impregnation, curing, consolidation, and re-impregnation and pyrolysis. As a prospective approach to fabricate a high performance composite, consolidation conditions, such as curing temperature to make a green body, pressure and heating rate during consolidation, were systematically controlled for effective consolidation. Because of its advantage in controlling physical characteristic, polyvinylsilane (PVS) that is liquid thermosetting organo-silicic compound was utilized as the matrix precursor. Based on the pyrolytic behavior of PVS, effects of the process conditions on microstructure of the consolidated bodies were accurately characterized. To relate those microstructure with mechanical property, flexural tests were performed for the composites after multiple PIP processing. Consequently, process conditions to make a high performance composite could be appeared. Structural conditions to be optimized for further improvement in mechanical and environmental properties were also discussed.     

Finite Element Assisted Modelling of the Microscopic Impregnation Process in Thermoplastic Preforms

Fibre reinforced composite materials incorporating thermoplastic matrices are gaining increasing popularity in many industrial applications. One of the potential preforms for the manufacture of technical components is commingled yarn composed of reinforcement and matrix in fibre form. These are often employed in the pultrusion process. Another innovative preform consists of polymer powder preimpregnated sheath surrounding fibre bundles. To achieve adequate mechanical properties of the final product it is essential, when producing laminates by a process such as pultrusion with both types of preform, that sufficient matrix impregnation is achieved. The prevention of voids and dry-spots in the laminate requires a theoretical understanding of the mechanisms involved. On a microscopic scale, several finite element (FE) models can be used to simulate the progress of the matrix flow into the interstitial spaces between the single reinforcement fibres. In the present simulations, a hexagonal and a square arrangement account for two of the various fibre packings occurring in a laminate. It permits an estimation of the impregnation performance of commingled and powder impregnated yarns. For each preform the shear rate, to which the polymer matrix is subjected during the impregnation and consolidation process, can be predicted.     

Consolidation of unidirectional CF/PEEK composites from commingled yarn prepreg

Relationships between impregnation mechanisms, consolidation quality and resulting mechanical properties of CF/PEEK thermoplastic composites manufactured from a commingled yarn system have been investigated. A small compression mould was used to apply the different processing conditions (i.e. pressure, holding time and processing temperature). The consolidation quality of finished samples was characterized mainly through microscopic studies of the microstructure of the material associated with density measurements and evaluations of mechanical properties using a small transverse flexure testing facility. A model for qualitatively describing the impregnation and consolidation processes in commingled-yarn-based thermoplastic composites was developed, which predicts variations of void content during consolidation as well as the time, temperature and pressure required to reach full consolidation. Good correlations between predictions and the experimental data indicate the success of the approach. For a desired, minimum level of void content (X_v = 0.5%), optimum processing windows for manufacturing of CF/PEEK composite parts from the commingled yarn preform are suggested.     

Composite structure composed of overlapped fibre bundles,thermoplastic resin and metal plate for secondary forming process

A simple shape of a composite is preferable in mass production, while a curved or stretched shape is sometimes preferable for final products. High formability would enable the composite to deform into a preferable shape by secondary forming. In this paper, a structure for a composite is proposed to enhance formability. The composite is composed of reinforcing fibre bundles, thermoplastic resin as the matrix and metal plates. The reinforcing fibre bundles are discontinuous, and are intentionally overlapped in the longitudinal direction. The resin including fibre bundles is sandwiched between the metal plates. As the thermoplastic resin is melted at an adequate temperature, heating would enhance the mobility of thermoplastic resin resulting in high formability at the secondary forming. If the overlapped length is adequately designed, the composite would still maintain high strength after the secondary formation. The validity of the concept was checked by finite element analyses and experiments.     

New lignocellulosic fibres-reinforced composite materials: A stepforward in the valorisation of the Posidonia oceanica balls

In this work, new lignocellulosic particles obtained from Posidonia oceanica were studied to reinforce a commercial biodegradable thermoplastic matrix. First, these reinforcing fillers were characterised by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron (XPS) spectroscopies. Then, they were used to prepare several composite films using BIOPLAST GF 106 matrix. Different P. oceanica fragment loadings, namely 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% (w/w with respect to the matrix) were investigated. The morphology of the ensuing materials was assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), whereas their thermal and mechanical properties were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and tensile tests. The obtained results showed that P. oceanica-based particles enhanced the thermo-mechanical properties of the thermoplastic matrix.     

Advances in fusion bonding techniques for joining thermoplastic matrix composites: a review

Joining composite materials is an issue because traditional joining technologies are not directly transferable to composite structures. Fusion bonding and the use of thermoplastic films as hot melt adhesives offer an alternative to mechanical fastening and thermosetting adhesive bonding. Fusion bonding technology which originated from the thermoplastic polymer industry has gain a new interest with the introduction of thermoplastic matrix composites (TPC) which are currently regarded as candidates for primary structures. The improvement of thermoplastic polymer matrices, with the introduction of recent chemistries such as PEEK, PEI and PEKEKK. exhibiting increased mechanical performance, service temperature and solvent resistance (for the semi-crystalline systems) also supported the growth of interest for fusion bonding. This review looks at the state of the art of fusion bonding technology and focuses particularly on the three most promising fusion bonding techniques: ultrasonic welding, induction welding and resistance welding. Physical mechanisms involved in the fusion bonding process for modelling purposes are discussed including heat transfer, consolidation and crystallinity aspects. Finally, the application of fusion bonding to joining dissimilar materials, namely thermosetting composites (TSC)/TPC and metal/TPC joints, is reviewed.     

A combined optical-thermal model for near-infrared laser heating of thermoplastic composites in an automated tape placement process

A combined optical-thermal model is presented for near-infrared laser heating of carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastic composites in an automated tape placement process. For the first time a three dimensional ray tracing model is presented for a near-infrared laser tape placement process which captures the unique anisotropic scattering behaviour of the composite. Predicted irradiance distributions on the composite are subsequently applied to a 2D non-linear finite element thermal model. It is shown that a shadow is present in the process and causes a significant drop in temperature prior to the consolidation zone. The effect of various source and surface model simplifications was also studied. The modelled temperature profiles agree well with experimental data. Substrate fibre orientation was investigated and found to have only a small influence on the temperature history.     

纤维增强热塑性树脂预浸料的制备工艺及研究进展

热塑性复合材料因冲击韧性高、环境适应性强、可回收利用等优点,被广泛应用于汽车制造、航空航天、国防军工等领域。但因热塑性树脂加热熔融后较高的黏度使其很难与纤维充分浸渍。预浸料作为制造复合材料的中间材料,现阶段制备工艺已相对成熟,预浸料中纤维已被树脂浸润,因此通过预浸料制备的复合材料孔隙率较低。本文介绍了现阶段常用的热塑性预浸料制备方法及各自的优缺点,包括溶液浸渍法、熔融浸渍法、粉末浸渍法、薄膜叠层法、纤维混杂法以及反应链增长浸渍法。阐述了热塑性树脂熔体浸润纤维的浸渍机理,对浸渍机理的部分研究成果进行了概括。概述了浸渍温度、浸渍压力和牵引速率对预浸带性能的影响。最后指出了国内预浸料生产中存在的主要问题,未来可采用多学科结合、纤维树脂改性、对浸渍过程进行计算机模拟等方法促进热塑性预浸带的产业化发展。     

碳纤维增强聚苯硫醚复合材料激光加热原位成型过程中的温度场

连续纤维增强热塑性复合材料（Thermoplastic Composite,TPC）自动铺放（Automated Fiber Placement,AFP）可以实现铺层原位成型,因此在制造大型结构件、降低加工成本及提升生产效率方面潜力巨大。原位成型过程中铺层温度场分布对复合材料构件成型质量具有较大影响,且激光加热过程中又涉及激光能量场与预浸料吸收光能后产生的温度场之间相互耦联,机理复杂,因此结合传热模型,通过有限元模拟仿真研究激光辅助加热自动铺放成型连续碳纤维增强聚苯硫醚（CF/PPS）复合材料过程中铺层经历的温度历程。同时构建铺层温度场测量系统,对铺层经历的温度历程进行实时采集和存储。研究结果表明,铺放过程中黏合区域前方存在激光辐照阴影区,使压辊下方黏合区域的温度急剧下降;随着铺放速度的增加,黏合区域峰值温度逐渐降低,且成型速度越快,铺层间黏合区域峰值温度差越小,而热电偶测量结果与仿真结果相差越大;随着激光输出功率的增大,铺层峰值温度逐渐升高;为提高原位成型效率,当激光输出功率选择最大6kW时,最大铺放速度为0.75 m/s。通过对比,试验结果中的峰值温度与仿真模拟结果变化趋势相近,证明了有限元仿真模型的正确性。      

Characteristics of CF/PEI tape winding process with on-line consolidation

The effects of processing conditions on consolidation quality for the tape winding process of thermoplastic composites with on-line consolidation have been investigated. Composite rings were manufactured using carbon fibre (CF)/polyetherimide (PEI) tape for both cases with and without an insulated ring. Based on heat transfer and intimate contact/autohesion mechanisms, a steady-state finite element method (FEM) model was developed to analyze consolidation quality and overheating in composite tapes. The processing windows with the upper bound for good consolidation and the lower bound for overheating were established for winding speed as a function of processing temperature, when the compaction pressure was kept constant. Good correlation was obtained between the steady-state FEM model and experimental data.     

On the characterisation of transverse tensile properties of molten unidirectional thermoplastic composite tapes for thermoforming simulations

The development of Finite Element (FE) thermoforming simulations of tailored thermoplastic blanks, i.e. blanks composed of unidirectional pre-impregnated tapes, requires the characterisation of the composite tape under the same environmental conditions as forming occurs. This paper presents a novel approach for the characterisation of transverse tensile properties of unidirectional thermoplastic tapes using a Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) system in a quasi-static manner. The relevance of the presented method is assessed by testing, under the same environmental conditions, a control material with both a universal testing machine and a DMA system. For simulation purposes, a unidirectional thermoplastic tape is characterised under environmental forming conditions using the presented test method. Experimental results, which include stress–strain behaviour and transverse viscosity, are eventually used to identify, via an inverse approach, simulation parameters of a thermo-visco-elastic composite material model (MAT 140, PAM-Form, ESI Group). Comparisons between simulated and experimental results show good agreement.     

Modeling of heat transfer and unsaturated flow in woven fiber reinforcements during direct injection-pultrusion process of thermoplastic composites

This paper provides a methodology for the modeling of heat transfer and polymer flow during direct thermoplastic injection pultrusion process. Pultrusion was initially developed with thermosets which have low viscosity. But the impregnation becomes a critical point with thermoplastics which exhibit higher viscosity. There are very few reported works on direct thermoplastic impregnation with injection within the die. In addition, the rare studies have not adequately addressed the issue of unsaturated flow in woven fiber reinforcements. The solution proposed here, models the polymer flow through dual-scale porous media. A heat transfer model is coupled to a flow model enriched with a sink term. Specific changes of variables are made so as to model the steady state solution of unsaturation along a continuous process. The sink term, added to the continuity equation, represents the absorption rate of polymer by the bundles. Data were measured on a pultrusion line and micrographs confirmed the modeling strategy with an unsaturated flow approach. The flow modeling coupled to heat transfer of the thermoplastic pultrusion process aims at determining the saturation evolution through the die so as to manufacture pultruded profiles with the lowest residual porosity.     

On avoiding thermal degradation during welding of high-performance thermoplastic composites to thermoset composites

One of the major constraints in welding thermoplastic and thermoset composites is thermal degradation of the thermoset resin under the high temperatures required to achieve fusion bonding of the thermoplastic resin. This paper presents a procedure to successfully prevent thermal degradation of the thermoset resin during high-temperature welding of thermoplastic to thermoset composites. The procedure is based on reducing the heating time to fractions of a second during the welding process. In order to achieve such short heating times, which are much too short for commercial welding techniques such as resistance or induction welding, ultrasonic welding is used in this work. A particularly challenging scenario is analysed by considering welding of carbon-fibre reinforced poly-ether-ether-ketone, with a melting temperature of 340 °C, to carbon-fibre reinforced epoxy with a glass transition temperature of 157 °C.     

Anisotropic damage of alumina/alumina CFCCs under long term high temperature exposure: Investigations by ultrasonic stiffness measurements and quasi-static tests

The present work deals with the development of anisotropic damage in alumina/alumina continuous fiber ceramic composites (CFCCs). The composites were isothermally exposed to a corrosive/high temperature environment at 1100°C, which simulates the working conditions of a gas turbine. Stiffness matrix components and strength were experimentally defined as a function of exposure duration by means of ultrasonic stiffness measurements and quasi-static tensile tests.

In order to determine the stiffness matrix components, a new ultrasonic stiffness characterisation technique was employed. According to this method, the through transmission phase velocities are measured using a custom built immersion set-up. The experimental data are subsequently used in order to solve the inverse scattering problem and reconstruct the stiffness matrix of the composite at successive thermal exposure levels. The stiffness matrix of the composite was assumed to be orthotropic. Damage functions were formulated to describe the high temperature/corrosive exposure effect on the stiffness matrix of the composite.

Finally, quasi-static tensile tests were used to assess the stiffness reduction of the composite and compare the values to those acquired non-destructively. The effect of exposure time on the strength of the composite was determined in the same way.     

Commingled yarn composites for rapid processing of complex shapes

Commingled yarns of reinforcing and thermoplastic fibres offer a potential for low-cost manufacturing of complex-shaped composite parts, due to reduced impregnation times and applied pressures during processing. In order to benefit from this competitive advantage, the process parameters governing consolidation must be controlled. In this study, a consolidation model, previously validated for unidirectional commingled yarn fabrics processed isothermally in a flat matched-die mould, is applied to three other processing techniques capable of producing complex-shaped composites. Tubes of braided commingled yarns were manufactured by bladder inflation moulding. Selectively reinforced polymeric parts were processed by compression–injection moulding. Stamp forming was also used to allow high-speed processing of commingled yarn-based laminates. Besides particular stamp forming cases, for which part deconsolidation occurred, the model predictions were in good agreement with the void content values obtained from specimens consolidated under different processing conditions. This suggests that the consolidation model can be successfully applied to a wide range of yarn architectures and processing techniques.     

Consolidation of GF/PP commingled yarn composites

Consolidation quality and corresponding mechanical properties of GF/PP thermoplastic composites manufactured from a commingled yarn system have been investigated. A small compression mould with a laboratory hot press was used to apply the different processing variables (i.e. pressure, holding time and processing temperature). The consolidation quality of finished samples was characterized mainly through (a) microscopic studies of the material's microstructure, (b) density measurements, and (c) evaluations of mechanical properties using a small transverse flexure testing facility. A model for qualitatively describing the impregnation and consolidation processes in commingled yarn based thermoplastic composites was applied to predict variations of void content during consolidation and the time, temperature and pressure required to reach full consolidation. Based on a desired, minimum level of void content (X _v =2.0%), optimum processing windows for manufacturing of GF/PP commingled yarn composites are suggested.     

Fabrication of woven carbon fibre/polycarbonate repair patches

In-field repair of composite aircraft is often performed in difficult conditions and hence needs to be as simple as possible. Current repair techniques generally involve the application of composite patches based on thermosetting epoxy resin via either wet lay-up, prepreg stacking over a film adhesive, or bonding precured patches. These methods of repair are very effective, but a complex cure cycle under controlled conditions is required and the use of epoxy resin means that storage must be taken into consideration. Composites patches based on thermoplastic resins overcome both of these problems; they do not require curing, and have no special storage needs. Thermoplastics can also be thermoformed and can hence be produced in sheet form and formed to the correct shape in situ during adhesive bonding to the surface to be patched, using vacuum and heat. With its low thermoforming temperature and good mechanical properties, polycarbonate is a good candidate for use as a thermoplastic matrix, with woven carbon fibre fabric as the reinforcement to produce patch laminates. The present paper describes the use of solution impregnation together with film stacking to produce patches of acceptable quality and how these patches were formed without any wrinkling using double diaphragm forming.     

Process-induced strains in RTM processing of polyurethane/carbon composites

The development of residual strains and stresses is critical to manufacture composite structures with the required dimensional stability and mechanical performance. This work uses Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors to monitor strain build-up in carbon fiber composites with a polyurethane (PU) matrix designed for high production volume applications. The PU matrix presents an initially low viscosity combined with a fast cure reaction, which makes it adequate to very short processing cycles. FBG sensors were incorporated into PU-matrix composites manufactured by vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM). The measured strains were compared with those obtained with different benchmark epoxy-matrix composites and with those obtained through micromechanical finite element simulations. Results showed that most of the residual strains were built-up during cool-down from the post-curing temperature and that stresses in the PU-matrix composites were comparable to those obtained for epoxies with similar T_g.     

Interfacial shear strength estimates of NiTi–Al matrix composites fabricated via ultrasonic additive manufacturing

The purpose of this study is to understand and improve the interfacial shear strength of metal matrix composites fabricated via ultrasonic additive manufacturing (UAM). NiTi–Al composites can exhibit dramatically lower thermal expansion compared to aluminum, yet blocking stresses developed during thermal cycling have been found to degrade and eventually cause interface failure in these composites. In this study, the strength of the interface was characterized with pullout tests. Since adhered aluminum was consistently observed on all pullout samples, the matrix yielded prior to the interface breaking. Measured pullout loads were utilized as an input to a finite element model for stress and shear lag analysis. The aluminum matrix experiences a calculated peak shear stress near 230 MPa, which is above its ultimate shear strength of 150–200 MPa thus corroborating the experimentally-observed matrix failure. The influence of various fiber surface treatments and consolidation characteristics on bond mechanisms was studied with scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, optical microscopy, and focused ion beam microscopy.     

Mechanical and interfacial properties of wood and bio-based thermoplastic composite

The aim of this investigation was to study a new family of wood polymer composites with thermoplastic elastomer matrix (pebax® copolymers) instead of commonly used WPC matrices. These copolymers are polyether-b-amide thermoplastic elastomers which present an important elongation at break and a melting point below 200 °C to prevent wood fibers degradation during processing. Moreover these polymers are synthesized from renewable resources and they present a hydrophilic character which allow them to interact with wood fibers. We have used two pebax® grade with different hardness and three types of wood fibers, so the influence of the matrix and wood fibers characteristics were evaluated. Composites were produced using a laboratory-size twin screw extruder to obtain composite pellets prior to injection moulding into tensile test samples. We have evaluated fibers/matrix interaction by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), infrared spectroscopy (IRTF) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Then, the mechanical properties, through tensile test, were assessed. We also observed fibers dispersion into the matrix by tomography X. DSC, IRTF and SEM measurements confirmed the presence of strong interface interactions between polymer and wood. These interactions lead to good mechanical properties of the composites with a reinforcement effect of wood fibers due also to a good dispersion of fibers into the matrix without agglomerate.