Research On Prepreg Temperature And Its Deformation For Automated Tape Laying

Since composites are applied in military industry and civil fields, the low-cost compositemanufacture techniques are attracting more and more attention. In this article, the processingparameters of the Automated Tape Laying (ATL) are researched based on the self-developed ATLmachine and software, aiming at raising the producing rate and improving the ATL technique. Thispaper’s main work and achievements include the following:(1) Based on analysis of the procedure of ATL process, the ATL process parameters, such asplacement temperature, placement pressure, placement rate, et al, are important parameters duringATL process. Moreover, the preparation and properties of the prepregs are studied theoretically, andthe prepreg properties should satisfy certain requirements, such as viscosity and fluidity. The processparameters (placement temperature, placement pressure, placement rate, et al.) of epoxy andbismaleimide prepreg are researched, and the parameters are optimal proved by verificationexperiments which contain manufacture a couple of typical composite structures.(2) Because of the prepreg viscosity’s significance role in the process of ATL, the paperestabilishes the relationships between prepreg temperature and placement temperature, betweenprepreg temperature and placement rate, to improve the control of prepreg temperature and finally tobetter the control of the prepreg viscosity.(3) The time variable of prepreg deformation in the ATL process can be ignored, and theapproximation which to regard the prepreg deformation as elastic-plastic deformation, is verified bythe compression relaxation experiments in thickness direction finally.The results show that the parameters are optimal proved by verification experiments whichcontain manufacture a couple of typical composite structures. Adjustable placement temperature andplacement rate is benefit for controlling prepreg viscosity. The compression relaxation experiments inthickness direction can verify prepreg deformation regarding as elastic-plastic deformationreasonable.