Comparing the performance of different thermoplastic matrix pre-impregnated mat...

• Author(s): Santos, M. S. ; Nunes, J. P. ; Silva, J. F. ; Novo, Paulo ; Marques, A. T.
• Date: 2013
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/1822/26565
• Origin: RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho
• Subject(s): Thermoplastic matrix composites; Pre-impregnated; Polypropylene; Towpregs; Commigled fibres; Tapes
• Document Type: Conference Object
• Language: English

Description

This work studies and compares the processability into final composite parts of three different pre-impregnated materials, produced by different wetting techniques. All studied pre-impregnated materials were based on a continuous glass fibers reinforced polypropylene matrix (GF/PP) system. One is a tape produced in a previous work by using the melting process (cross-head extrusion) and, from the other two produced by fiber/matrix intimate contact methods, one is a commercial available commingled fibers product and the other a towpreg produced by our own developed dry coating prototype line. Pultrusion and compression molding were the manufacturing methods selected to process all the pre-impregnated materials into final composite parts. The performance of the three studied GF/PP pre-impregnated materials was assessed by comparing final properties of the manufactured composite parts submitted to mechanical testing and microscopy analysis.