Donghua University demonstrates in situ consolidation of thick low-melt PAEK laminates
SNAPSHOT: Even without using heated tooling, the Center for Civil Aviation Composites achieved thermoplastic composite laminates with <1% voids, near-zero warpage and good consolidation, showing potential for OOA production.
Source | The Center for Civil Aviation Composites at Donghua University
The Center for Civil Aviation Composites at Donghua University (Shanghai, China) has achieved in situ consolidation of a 7-millimeter-thick thermoplastic composite (TPC) laminates made using laser-assisted automated fiber placement (AFP) and carbon fiber-reinforced prepreg with a low-melt PAEK polymer.
Even with cold tooling during in situ consolidation, the team achieved:
- Ultra-low void content.
- Low warpage/optimal dimensional stability.
- Robust consolidation for thick sections.
“These results highlight the potential for laser-assisted, in situ consolidation for scalable, out-of-autoclave production,” says associate professor Cheng Chen, “especially where thickness, quality and shape accuracy are critical.”
Read more about this work in LinkedIn, and more about in situ consolidation of TPC in CW’s articles on the subject.
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