Investigation of Mechanical Properties of Fibre Metal Laminates based on a Thermoplastic Resin

Kurzfassung

Fibre Metal Laminates (FML), consisting of alternatively stacked steel foils and glass bre reinforced PEEK layers, where investigated. The metal surface was treated with a cleaning laser and an appropriate set of parameters was chosen, the GFPEEK surface was degreased with acetone. The laminates were fabricated afterwards by means of a hot press and several specimens were cut out of the specimen plate via water jet cutting. Specimen dimensions and testing parameters for tensile, shear tensile, 4-point-bending and 3-point-bending tests were developed. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the application of several testing methods on FML on the one hand and the mechanical properties of a FML based on a thermoplastic resin on the other hand. The specimens though delaminated during water jet cutting, so that no mechanics of materials testing could be performed. Further analysis exhibited diverse reasons for this total failure: The process parameters have to be revised. Especially the dimensions of the laminate have to be adjusted to the dimensions of the tool and pressure and temperature have to be coordinated. It is furthermore important to improve the laser treatment so that a uniform structure can be achieved. Extensive sulphur contamination could be detected on the metal surface after delamination, which states the most grave reason for delamination. Possible modications of the pretreatment and production processes were presented.