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  • Advanced Thermoplastic Carbon Fibre Reinforced Pultruded Composites
    Publication . Novo, P. J.; Silva, João; Nunes, J. P.; Marques, A. T.
    The aim of this work is to optimize the production of new continuous carbon fibers reinforced thermoplastic matrix pre-impregnated materials (towpregs) continuously processed by dry deposition of polymer powders in a new equipment developed by the Institute for Polymers and Composites (IPC). The processing of the produced towpregs by pultrusion, in a developed prototype equipment existing in the Engineering School of the Polytechnic Institute of Porto (ISEP), was also optimized. Two different thermoplastic matrices were studied: one for commercial applications (polypropylene) and another for advanced markets (Primospire®). The optimization was made by studying the influence of the most relevant processing parameters in the final properties of the produced towpregs and composites. The final pultruded composite profiles were submitted to mechanical tests in order to obtain relevant properties.
  • Thermoplastic matrix composites – new generation of eco-friendly materials
    Publication . Esfandiari, Puria; Silva, João; Novo, P. J.
    The biggest advantagein the use of thermoplastic composites is the possibility of recycling and reprocessing, which is not possible with thermosetting composites. The shorter manufacturing cycle time and lower chemical emissions are, as well, other advantages. The use of thermoplastic matrix composites creates new engineering challenges concerning the manufacturing due to their high viscisity during manufacture. For all the advantages that these materials present, it becomes useful to study and evolve the universe of composites in the direction of thermoplastics. In this work, continuous fiber thermoplastic composites were produced and transformed by pultrusion and heated compression moulding. The manufactured composites were then tested, and mechanical properties were determined and studied.
  • Processing of carbon reinforced thermoplastic composites
    Publication . Novo, P. J.; Nunes, J. P.; Silva, João; Marques, A. T.
    The aim of this work is to produce and optimize the processing of carbon fibres thermoplastic matrix pre-impregnated materials (towpregs and PCT´s) using the dry powder coating equipment from our own laboratories. Pultrusion was the selected manufacturing method for processing all carbon fibres thermoplastic matrix pre-impregnated materials into composite parts. The optimization of the pultrusion processe was made by studying the influence of the most relevant processing parameters in the final properties of the produced carbon fibres thermoplastic matrix pre-impregnated materials and composites. The composite relevant mechanical properties were determined and studied. The final composites were also submitted to Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy and calcination tests. The determination of the fiber volume fraction of a composite with a high melting temperature thermoplastic polymer used as matrix was obtained comparing the results of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) with the calcination tests.
  • Fracture toughness determination of adhesive and co-cured joints in natural fibre composites
    Publication . Campilho, Raul; Moura, Daniel; Gonçalves, Daniel J. S.; Silva, João; Banea, Mariana D.; Silva, Lucas F. M. da
    Adhesive bonding has become more efficient in the last few decades due to the adhesives developments, granting higher strength and ductility. On the other hand, natural fibre composites have recently gained interest due to the low cost and density. It is therefore essential to predict the fracture behavior of joints between these materials, to assess the feasibility of joining or repairing with adhesives. In this work, the tensile fracture toughness (Gc n) of adhesive joints between natural fibre composites is studied, by bonding with a ductile adhesive and co-curing. Conventional methods to obtain Gc n are used for the co-cured specimens, while for the adhesive within the bonded joint, the J-integral is considered. For the J-integral calculation, an optical measurement method is developed for the evaluation of the crack tip opening and adherends rotation at the crack tip during the test, supported by a Matlab sub-routine for the automated extraction of these quantities. As output of this work, an optical method that allows an easier and quicker extraction of the parameters to obtain Gc n than the available methods is proposed (by the J-integral technique), and the fracture behaviour in tension of bonded and co-cured joints in jute-reinforced natural fibre composites is also provided for the subsequent strength prediction. Additionally, for the adhesively- bonded joints, the tensile cohesive law of the adhesive is derived by the direct method.