METHODS FOR THE POST-CONSOLIDATION OF HIGH-SPEED-WOUND THERMOPLASTIC CFRP TUBES

Abstract

This study investigates post-consolidation methods for thermoplastic carbon fibre reinforced plastic (cfrp) tubes produced using Continuous Resistance Heating Technology (CoRe HeaT). CoRe HeaT uses the electrical resistivity of carbon fibres to heat them up intrinsically via the Joule effect, allowing for extremely fast heating rates and volumetric heat generation within the fibres. The goal is to determine suitable process chains for producing high-speed wound carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastic tubes that can be used for cost-effective cylindrical products such as tanks, piping or struts. One important step to make high-speed processing of thermoplastic tapes viable is the post-consolidation, which is mandatory to maintain/obtain good mechanical properties. The study compares three consolidation methods, using shrink tape, vacuum, and their combination, to achieve good consolidation quality at minimal costs. The use of an autoclave is avoided, reducing investment costs and improving resource and energy efficiency. To examine the consolidation quality of tube samples, optical microscopy is used. Furthermore, mechanical properties are tested using Apparent Hoop Tensile Strength tests based on ASTM D2290. The results provide a differentiated analysis of post-consolidation methods and their effects on material and mechanical properties. Moreover, they offer insights into the phenomena arising from the consolidation process.