Prepreg polymer composites

One of the first Pulse Stream generators was the 100 kW test rig situated in the Humber estuary, which currently feeds power into a chemicals company on the banks of the river. The shells of the blades of one of these Pulse Stream 100 tidal generators were manufactured in glass fibre/epoxy polymer composites the spar was fabricated in carbon fibre/epoxy polymer composites. The spar, which is thick compared with the shell, was manufactured by the infusion technique, but for subsequent generators the prepreg technique will be used to make the spars. Figure 10.8 shows the Pulse Stream 100 tidal generator. 

Dutta D, Weiss RA, Kristal K (1993) Liquid crystalline polymer/fluoropolymer blends preparation and properties of unidirectional prepregs and composite laminates. Polym Eng Sci 33 (13) 838-844... 

Drazic PS (1995) Liquid crystal dispersions. World Scientific, Singapore Dufresne A (2006) Comparing the mechanical properties of high performances polymer nanocomposites from biological sources. J Nanosci Nanotechnol 6 322-330 Dutta D, Weiss RA, Kristal K (1992) Blends containing liquid crystalline polymers preparation and properties of melt drawn fibers, unidirectional prepregs and composite laminates. Polym Compos 13 394-401... 

Morgan, R. J., Walkup, C. M., Hoheisel, T. H. Differential Scanning Calorimetry Studies of the Cure of Carbon Fiber-Epoxy Composite Prepregs, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 30, 289 (1985)... 

In Table 15.3 are shown the chemical structures and Tg and of some representative thermoplastic polymers for use at high temperature (3,9). These matrices have high continuous service temperatures (120-200° C) even under wet environmental conditions. Advantages of thermoplastic over thermoset matrices are their shorter fabrication cycle (generally controlled environment storage is not required) and the possibility to be reprocessed and reconsolidated after manufacture. Poly(ether ether ketone) is a strong contender with epoxy resins for use as a matrix in composite prepregs with carbon fibers to be utilized in structural aircraft components. 

The objective of this work has been to generate films, tapes or ribbons which might serve as a prepreg from blends of either an Ultem or a PEEK or a high molecular weight PPS with various liquid crystalline polymers, to identify the parameters that control the formation of reinforcing microfibrils of LCP phase, and to study the mechanical properties of the composite films. 

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