Project Title:

Filament Winding Process for Thermoplastic Matrix Composites

04.05-8900
Filament Winding Process for Thermoplastic
	Matrix Composites
PDA Engineering
2975 Red Hill Avenue
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Ronald Allred  (714-540-8900)
MSFC -- NAS8-37632

Abstract:

	 Thermoplastic composites have high impact strength and higher solvent resistance
and can potentially be processed much faster than thermoset composites; however,
there is a lack of suitable processing techniques. To overcome this, a processing
method involving in-situ fusion and compaction during filament winding using an advanced
thermoplastic co-mingled with graphite fiber strands was investigated that used heat
for fusion from induced currents.
	Exploratory experiments have shown that eddy current heating of graphite fibers
can be directed and confined to the interface bond line to achieve melt temperature
(about 400 C) in a thermoplastic matrix and form a solid structural composite. Compaction
of the fiber strands while the resin is molten can be accomplished through proper
design of a pressure application device that will conform to cross-overs and other
surface irregularities encountered in the filament winding process.
	The tests conducted in the Phase I program show that induction heating can be used
to process graphite-thermoplastic composites on a continuous basis. Since the research
was conducted on the worst case of unidirectional composites, it may be possible
to process all types of fiber layups.

Potential Commercial Application:

Potential Commercial Application: Commercial applications of this technology include
manufacture and repair of aircraft skins, aircraft structures, vehicles, boats, spacecraft,
rockets, housing materials, and lightweight equipment.