Tape-Breitenregelung im Carbonfaser-Stangenspreizprozess

• Automatic tape width control for a carbon fiber bar spreading process

Happach, Wilko Kristian; Gries, Thomas (Thesis advisor); Dransfeld, Clemens (Thesis advisor)

Düren : Shaker Verlag (2021)
Book, Dissertation / PhD Thesis

In: Textiltechnik/Textile technology
Page(s)/Article-Nr.: III,231 Seiten : Illustrationen, Diagramme

Dissertation, RWTH Aachen University, 2021

Abstract

The market for carbon fiber tapes has been showing stable growth for several years, which is primarily due to the possibility of automated tape laying to form composite components and the resulting cost savings in production. At present, thermoset prepreg carbon fiber tapes are primarily used to meet the requirements of the aerospace industry for high fiber volume content and low void content in composite components. However, the associated process route is cost-intensive and not suitable for scaling up to larger quantities. An alternative to prepreg carbon fiber tapes considered in this dissertation are so-called dry binder-fixed carbon fiber tapes, which consist without a matrix phase. These carbon fiber tapes can be consolidated in vacuum infusion or resin transfer molding processes via low-cost out-of-autoclave process routes. However, in the production of dry binder-fixed carbon fiber tapes, there is no possibility of edge trimming, as is done with prepreg carbon fiber tapes, in order to be able to set a defined tape width. Without a uniform defined tape width, placement errors due to overlaps or gaps can occur in the following automated tape laying processes. In addition, carbon fiber tapes are currently not economically viable for industries outside the aviation industry due to the high material prices. Therefore, in this dissertation a spreading process with an integrated width control for the production of dry binder-fixed tapes out of cost-effective carbon fiber heavy tows is designed, developed and implemented. The system is validated by a technical evaluation of the tape width control as well as by an evaluation of the mechanical properties of the produced carbon fiber tapes. As a benchmark, carbon fiber tapes produced on an industrial spreading machine are used. In addition to the technical evaluation, an economic evaluation of the developed process is carried out.

Institutions

• Chair of Textile Technology in Mechanical Engineering and Institut für Textiltechnik [419110]