Processing of Thermoplastic Composites Using a Powder Slurry Technique. I. Impregnation and Preheating

The success of thermoplastic matrix composites depends upon the development of economical methods of impregnation. The purpose of this work was to develop and understand an economical impregnation procedure using a slurry based powder technology. An impregnation and preheating line consisting of a fiber tensioner, a slurry bath, a drying heater, a coating heater, and a fiber winder was used to make resin coated fibers. The influence of the process parameters on the impregnation, preheating, coating, and consolidation were studied. Part I of this paper presents the experimental investigation of the impregnation and preheating stages of the process together with a preheating model. Luikov's coupled equations of heat and mass transfer were used to model the heating and drying of the tow in the preheater. The predictions of the preheating and drying model are compared to the experimentally obtained results.