Register now After registration you will be able to apply for this opportunity online.
This opportunity is not published. No applications will be accepted.
Polymer suspensions for high-volume and sustainable thermoplastic composite manufacturing
This work focuses on the design and testing of polymer suspensions for the use to manufacture hybrid bicomponent fibers, a novel material for high-volume manufacturing of sustainable thermoplastic composites.
**Challenge in high-volume production of composites**
Short cycle times in manufacturing, lightweight and tough in use together with formability and recyclability are requirements in high-volume part manufacturing for structural applications today. Fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites expand the market potential of durable, lightweight thermoplastic composites. Our goals are to couple rapid cycle times with readily formable materials in the development of sustainable advanced structural composites.
**Solution: Hybrid bicomponent fibers**
Hybrid bicomponent fibers are reinforcement fibers individually coated with the thermoplastic. This novel preform material has superior advantages to state-of-the-art as it: is cost effective, conforms to complex geometries and allows rapid consolidation of the resultant composite component.
**Application potential of hybrid bicomponent fibers**
- Enabling the fast production of complex composite parts through rapid stamp forming
- Development of small to large diameters rods with multiple application potentials using precision 3D printing technologies to pultrusion of large diameter rods
**Challenge in high-volume production of composites**
Short cycle times in manufacturing, lightweight and tough in use together with formability and recyclability are requirements in high-volume part manufacturing for structural applications today. Fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites expand the market potential of durable, lightweight thermoplastic composites. Our goals are to couple rapid cycle times with readily formable materials in the development of sustainable advanced structural composites.
**Solution: Hybrid bicomponent fibers**
Hybrid bicomponent fibers are reinforcement fibers individually coated with the thermoplastic. This novel preform material has superior advantages to state-of-the-art as it: is cost effective, conforms to complex geometries and allows rapid consolidation of the resultant composite component.
**Application potential of hybrid bicomponent fibers**
- Enabling the fast production of complex composite parts through rapid stamp forming
- Development of small to large diameters rods with multiple application potentials using precision 3D printing technologies to pultrusion of large diameter rods
Today’s production technique for bicomponent fibers is highly efficient and scalable. However, the choice in matrix material is limited to amorphous thermoplastics which are less resilient than semicrystalline polymers. However, enlarging the matrix material choice broadens the range of applications for hybrid bicomponent fibers.
One potential solution to overcome this challenge is by using aqueous polymer suspensions that are applied as thick coating to individual glass fibers directly during melt spinning of the filaments.
Realizing this idea combines knowhow of the current in-line manufacturing route for hybrid bicomponent fibers with novel techniques to produce concentrated polymer suspensions. With this knowledge we will rise the technology of hybrid bicomponent fibers to a new level.
Your work will include the design of those polymer suspensions together with applying those suspensions to single glass fibers with CMASLab’s uniquely designed coating stage.
Today’s production technique for bicomponent fibers is highly efficient and scalable. However, the choice in matrix material is limited to amorphous thermoplastics which are less resilient than semicrystalline polymers. However, enlarging the matrix material choice broadens the range of applications for hybrid bicomponent fibers. One potential solution to overcome this challenge is by using aqueous polymer suspensions that are applied as thick coating to individual glass fibers directly during melt spinning of the filaments. Realizing this idea combines knowhow of the current in-line manufacturing route for hybrid bicomponent fibers with novel techniques to produce concentrated polymer suspensions. With this knowledge we will rise the technology of hybrid bicomponent fibers to a new level. Your work will include the design of those polymer suspensions together with applying those suspensions to single glass fibers with CMASLab’s uniquely designed coating stage.