Development of hybrid composites with long fiber reinforced thermoplastic

Abstract

Long fiber reinforced thermoplastic (LFRT) is classified as a lightweight material, with a wide range of applications in many different commercial areas, such as, aerospace, automobile, construction, naval, agribusiness and electrical power transmission. Besides its mechanical properties versus its density, the advantages of LFRT as structural materials include low cost process, manufacturability of complex designs by injection mold and recyclability. In this project, two factors will be considered for LFRT mechanical performance, the first is the high viscosity of thermoplastic matrices used in it and the second is how many efficient the process can be, in order to achieve a proper cover of the fibers by the resin. The aim of this project is to build a die that wet out and consolidate the thermoplastic resin containing more than 30% of dry fibers. The raw materials that will be investigated in this project include polyamide, TPS and PCL resins, glass fiber and natural fiber (Sisal and Curaua). A complete characterization of the raw materials and of the thermoplastics composites will be made using laboratorial tests, and the validation of the production process will be made by scan electron microscopy (SEM), mechanical tests, thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Two commercial products - one for agribusiness and another for electrical power transmission - will be made by injection mold to evaluate their performance. All activities regarding to the engineering management and the design of the die will be made by HYCO company and the experimental tests will be made by EMBRAPA and HYCO. (AU)