Abstract
Although composite materials can, through lightweighting, play a role part in the
decarbonisation of transport, they are inherently challenging in terms of sustainability. This is
because high-performance composites used in the aerospace and automotive sector are often
made of carbon fibres and thermosets resins that are difficult to recycle. The HiPerDiF (High-
Performance Discontinuous Fibre) method invented at the University of Bristol offers a way to
remanufacture composites from reclaimed fibres. The method allows the production of
composites comprising high volume fractions of highly aligned discontinuous fibres, with high
processability and performance. Still, greater sustainability credentials can be gained by using
thermoplastic matrices which have a greater potential for recycling. In this study, the tensile
properties along the fibre direction of a HiPerDiF PLA/carbon fibre tape under process conditions
(high temperature below the melting point of the matrix) are investigated. This allows to create
a formability database that can be used as a basis for the development of process models that
can help in the development of a robust manufacturing process for the highly formable HiPerDiF
thermoplastic matrix tapes.
decarbonisation of transport, they are inherently challenging in terms of sustainability. This is
because high-performance composites used in the aerospace and automotive sector are often
made of carbon fibres and thermosets resins that are difficult to recycle. The HiPerDiF (High-
Performance Discontinuous Fibre) method invented at the University of Bristol offers a way to
remanufacture composites from reclaimed fibres. The method allows the production of
composites comprising high volume fractions of highly aligned discontinuous fibres, with high
processability and performance. Still, greater sustainability credentials can be gained by using
thermoplastic matrices which have a greater potential for recycling. In this study, the tensile
properties along the fibre direction of a HiPerDiF PLA/carbon fibre tape under process conditions
(high temperature below the melting point of the matrix) are investigated. This allows to create
a formability database that can be used as a basis for the development of process models that
can help in the development of a robust manufacturing process for the highly formable HiPerDiF
thermoplastic matrix tapes.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 248- |
| Number of pages | 254 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 12 Dec 2022 |
Research Groups and Themes
- CoSEM
Keywords
- PLA
- Aligned short carbon fibre
- Forming
- High temperature
- Fibre volume fraction