Continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material

This section focuses on continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic materials and the molds that are needed for a high-volume-compatible production of these materials. The complete process chain is illustrated in Figure 1.214. 

As seen in Figure 1.215 to Figure 1.217, processing of continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic materials is done in heated molds. These are mostly manufactured from mold steels for warm processing (so-called hot work steels). Well suitable steels are for example 1.2311,1.1730, and 1.2710. A useful help for selecting the appropriate mold steel is the so-called Key to Steel (Stahlschliissel Verlag, Marbach, Germany). Different steels and their composition and suitability are therein defined. 

Diaphragm forming is one of the oldest processing procedures for the manufacture of thin-walled components made from continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic materials. The non-isothermal diaphragm forming established itself. It has shorter cycle times than diaphragm forming in an autoclave [8, 9]. 

E)ykes, R.J., Horrigan, D.P.W. and Bhattacharyya, D. (1997) Numerical analysis of shape fixability of continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastics. Proceedings of the Eleventh International Conference on Composite Materials, ICCM-II, Vol. 9,... 

Pellet Production Technology of Continuation Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastic Resin Composite Material... 

Pultrusion. Another method by which thermoplastic fiber-reinforced polymers are produced is pultrusion. In pultrusion, an appropriately designed bundle of continuous fiber strands is drawn through a die along with a molten thermoplastic matrix material. The die serves to consolidate the material combination, and as the matrix material solidifies on exiting the die, a continuous fiber-reinforced structure is produced. Examples of pultruded products include fiberglass rods and reinforced water hoses. 

Girones et al. (2012) studied the mechanical properties of sisal and hemp fiber-reinforced thermoplastic cornstarch. The fiber increased the stiffness of the material. Results obtained in the tensile test displayed a continuous increase in both tensile modulus and ultimate strength that was proportional to the amount of reinforcement. Thus, Young s modulus for composites reinforced with a 20 % w/w of hemp... 

Intermediate Materials for Continuous Natural Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites... 

Composites. High molecular weight PPS can be combiaed with long (0.6 cm to continuous) fiber to produce advanced composite materials (131). Such materials having PPS as the polymer matrix have been developed by usiag a variety of reinforcements, including glass, carbon, and Kevlar fibers as mat, fabric, and unidirectional reinforcements. Thermoplastic composites based on PPS have found application ia the aircraft, aerospace, automotive, appliance, and recreation markets (see Composite materials, polymer-matrix). 

---