Thermoplastic Composites: Automated Fiber Placement

Goals for Research
Thermoplastic Composites
- AFP with Thermoplastic Material Systems used in
  Primary Structure Applications (i.e. Aircraft Fuselage and Wing)
- Manufacturing of Large-scale Thermoplastic Structures with
  Complex Geometry (i.e. Double Curvature)
- Thermoplastic AFP at Competitive Production Rates

Current Research Focus Areas

Automated Fiber Placement Development

  • First Play 'Sticking'
  • Production of Sub- and Large-scale Thermoplastic Structures
  • Material Characterization of Thermoplastic AFP Parts

Thermoplastics Selected for Production Test Panels and Process Parameter Development

  • CF/PEI
  • CF/PEKK
  • CF/PAEK