In this work, manufacturing tools for thermoplastic (TP) composites have been developed. The chosen process involves the stacking alternately of oriented dry fabrics and TP films and does not use semi-products in order to reduce material costs. This study was specifically directed towards optimizing the impregnation of continuous glass and carbon fibres reinforcing two TP amorphous matrices, the polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) and polyetherimide (PEI), to obtain semi-finished products employed for aeronautical structures. The impregnation quality of inter and intra-yarns is analyzed and validated by optical and scanning micrographic observations conducted with an optical and a Scanning Electron Microscopies (SEM), respectively. The study showed that besides the process parameters and porosity distribution in the core of warp yarns, the impregnation quality depends on the surface properties of constituents. Desizing treatment has been carried out to improve the wettability of fibres by the TP matrices.
KeywordsThermoplastic ResinCarbon-Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP)Glass-Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (GFRP)PorosityScanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
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