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Polymers and Polymer Composites

SIMULATION OF NON-ISOTHERMAL CRYSTALLIZATION KINETICS OF THERMOPLASTICS DURING FIBER PLACEMENT PROCESS

January 1, 2012 By: Yuehua Li; Hongya Fu; Zhenyu Han Research article

Title: SIMULATION OF NON-ISOTHERMAL CRYSTALLIZATION KINETICS OF THERMOPLASTICS DURING FIBER PLACEMENT PROCESS
Page Range: p.145-150
Author(s): Yuehua Li; Hongya Fu; Zhenyu Han
File size: 392K
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Journal: Polymers and Polymer Composites
Issue Year: ppc
Volume: 20
Issue No: No.1-2

Abstract
Currently more and more thermoplastic composites are applied in aircraft structures. During automated fibre placement process, thermoplastic composites, which adopted ‘in-situ consolidation’ technology, can be formed and consolidated in several minutes. Therefore, using ‘in-situ consolidation’ technology instead of autoclave technology is more economically. However, some technical indicators of laminates using ‘in site consolidation’ technology are below the autoclave laminates. In order to eliminate the most significant barriers, the automated fibre placement process should be studied. The crystallisation rate of thermoplastic in the cooling stage of automated fibre placement is one of the most important factors. In order to obtain the special crystallisation, the cooling temperature and cooling time should be strict controlled. According to the coupling phenomena between the non-isothermal crystallisation kinetics and the heat transfer in thermoplastic during the cooling stage, a mathematical model has been established. By solving above model, the relationship among cooling temperature, cooling time and relative crystallisation rate has been obtained. Above simulated data can guide the cooling stage of automated fibre placement process. 16 Refs.

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