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Continuous Fabrication of Hybrid Bicomponent Fibers
The commissioning of a new setup for the fabrication of bicomponent fibers requires the execution of two parameter studies: one for the spinning of the glass core and one for the coating process. Both shall be investigated experimentally with the purpose of finding a suitable operation point.
**Motivation**
Today, fiber-reinforced composites are broadly considered to be lightweight but labor intensive alternatives to conventional engineering materials and are thus seldom chosen for high volume production schemes. Let’s change that!
Composites with thermoplastic matrix systems offer alternative processing routes and provide a higher potential for recyclability than those containing conventional thermosets. However, the desired low cycle times are currently only achievable in stamp forming using comparatively expensive organosheets. Stamp forming of thermoplastic composites is still a promising method for high volume production and facilitates the transition of using composite materials in existing sheet press plants. The issue at hand lies not with the process, but with the intermediate material.
**Thermoplastic Sheath Bicomponent Fibers**
The concept of providing continuous reinforcement fibers which are individually coated with a thermoplastic polymer as feedstock for stamp forming fills that gap, because the composite has a complete wet-out to begin with and only needs to be consolidated.
The fabrication of such bicomponent fibers is not trivial. CMASLab investigates high-speed coating processes based on dilute polymer solutions as methods of manufacture.
**Motivation** Today, fiber-reinforced composites are broadly considered to be lightweight but labor intensive alternatives to conventional engineering materials and are thus seldom chosen for high volume production schemes. Let’s change that!
Composites with thermoplastic matrix systems offer alternative processing routes and provide a higher potential for recyclability than those containing conventional thermosets. However, the desired low cycle times are currently only achievable in stamp forming using comparatively expensive organosheets. Stamp forming of thermoplastic composites is still a promising method for high volume production and facilitates the transition of using composite materials in existing sheet press plants. The issue at hand lies not with the process, but with the intermediate material.
**Thermoplastic Sheath Bicomponent Fibers** The concept of providing continuous reinforcement fibers which are individually coated with a thermoplastic polymer as feedstock for stamp forming fills that gap, because the composite has a complete wet-out to begin with and only needs to be consolidated.
The fabrication of such bicomponent fibers is not trivial. CMASLab investigates high-speed coating processes based on dilute polymer solutions as methods of manufacture.
CMASLab is acquiring a new glass fiber spinning machine into which the coating technology developed in-house will be implemented. The commissioning of this new setup for the continuous fabrication of bicomponent fibers requires the execution of two parameter studies: one for the spinning of the glass core and one for the coating process.
**Your Profile**
- Interested in experimental work
- Flexible with regard to schedule (availability of equipment)
**Supervisor** Prof. Dr. P. Ermanni
**Tutor** C. Schneeberger
**Begin/End** Spring semester 2018 or on appointment
**Presentations** Intermediate (ungraded) and final (graded) presentations
Content may be discussed to also suit a Bachelor’s thesis.
CMASLab is acquiring a new glass fiber spinning machine into which the coating technology developed in-house will be implemented. The commissioning of this new setup for the continuous fabrication of bicomponent fibers requires the execution of two parameter studies: one for the spinning of the glass core and one for the coating process.
**Your Profile** - Interested in experimental work - Flexible with regard to schedule (availability of equipment)
**Supervisor** Prof. Dr. P. Ermanni **Tutor** C. Schneeberger **Begin/End** Spring semester 2018 or on appointment **Presentations** Intermediate (ungraded) and final (graded) presentations Content may be discussed to also suit a Bachelor’s thesis.
ETH Zurich
Christoph Schneeberger
CLA E 32.2
Tannenstrasse 3
8092 Zurich
Phone: +41 44 633 63 08
cschneeb@ethz.ch
www.structures.ethz.ch
ETH Zurich Christoph Schneeberger CLA E 32.2 Tannenstrasse 3 8092 Zurich