Effects of release media on the fusion bonding of carbon/PEEK laminates

Published Date
Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing
March 2017, Vol.94:70–76, doi:10.1016/j.compositesa.2016.11.028

• Author 

• Francisco Sacchetti ^a,b,
• Wouter J.B. Grouve ^a
• Laurent L. Warnet ^a,b,,www ,
• Irene Fernandez Villegas ^c

• aThermoPlastic Composites Research Center (TPRC), Enschede, The Netherlands
• bFaculty of Engineering Technology, Chair of Production Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
• cStructural Integrity and Composites, Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands

Received 27 July 2016. Revised 2 November 2016. Accepted 26 November 2016. Available online 28 November 2016. 

Abstract

Carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastic composite laminates have been press-consolidated using various release media. The potential contamination of the laminate’s surface by the release media and its effect on the performance of the joint after fusion bonding was studied. Before bonding, the physical and chemical state of the bonding surfaces were analysed by measurement the surface energy and roughness. The laminate surfaces chemical composition was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Subsequently, the laminates were fusion bonded through an autoclave cycle. The mechanical performance of the joints was characterized by mode-I fracture toughness and short beam strength tests. The surface of some of the composite laminates were found to contain high concentration of the release medium residues after consolidation. This contamination showed a significant effect on the mechanical performance of fusion bonded joints. It was demonstrated that the performance of the joint can be regained by employing a simple cleaning method.

Keywords

Thermoplastic composites

Fusion bonding

Surface contaminants

Fracture mechanics

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

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• ⁎ 
  Corresponding author at: Palatijn 15, P.O. Box 770, 7500AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
  
  

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