Investigation of the influence of melt-impregnation parameters on the morphology of thermoplastic UD-tapes and a method for quantifying the same

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Christian Hopmann - , IKV – Institute for Plastics Processing (Author)
  • Erik Wilms - , IKV – Institute for Plastics Processing (Author)
  • Christian Beste - , RWTH Aachen University (Author)
  • Daniel Schneider - , IKV – Institute for Plastics Processing (Author)
  • Kai Fischer - , IKV – Institute for Plastics Processing (Author)
  • Sebastian Stender - , RWTH Aachen University (Author)

Abstract

During the production of unidirectional fibre-reinforced thermoplastic semi-finished products (UD-tapes) in melt-impregnation processes, parameters such as melt viscosity, production speed and impregnation die setup have a significant influence on the quality of the produced UD-tapes. These influences are investigated in this article by producing UD-tapes in an extrusion-based melt-impregnation process with varying impregnation parameters. To quantify the homogeneity of the fibre distribution, a method is presented and applied, in which microscopic cross-sectional images of the UD-tapes are analysed and a homogeneity coefficient is calculated. The porosity is also determined by analysing microscopic cross-sectional images of the UD-tapes. The results show that a decreased melt viscosity and a high number of redirection elements in the die have a positive influence on the homogeneity of the fibre distribution. Furthermore, a significant influence of the melt viscosity, the production speed and the die setup on the porosity was proved.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1299-1312
Number of pages14
Journal Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials
Volume34
Issue number9
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2021
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0002-2989-9561/work/160952389

Keywords

Keywords

  • melt impregnation, optical microscopy, thermoplastic resin, UD-tape