Effect of forming process on mechanical and interfacial properties for thermoplastic composite I-stiffened structures

The forming process is the core factor to control the quality of thermoplastic composite components. In this paper, the common I-stiffened structures in the aerospace field were taken as the research object, and the forming process scheme was designed. Based on the prefabrication of C-shaped parts, the I-stiffened structures were prepared by the compression molding process. The influence law of molding temperature on the quality of the prefabricated C-shaped parts was explored. The time dependence of the PEEK melt viscosity was tested to provide the basis for the optimization of forming process parameters of I-stiffened structures. The influencing mechanism of thermoplastic composites repeatedly forming to the bonding strength of remelting interface was studied. The results show that repeated forming would lead to polymer aging and result in low bonding strength at the remelting interface of the I-stiffened structures. Optimizing the forming process could effectively reduce the aging of materials and improve the bonding strength of the remelting interface and overall mechanical properties of components. The research provides technical guidance for the manufacturing of complex thermoplastic composite components, especially the influence mechanism of the forming process on the bonding strength of remelting interface.

Use of Nonlinear Optics for Assessment of Cable Polymer Aging

Polymer jackets play an important protective role in distribution cabling by providing structure and resistance to moisture, heat, and exposure to harmful chemicals. Current methods of structural assessment, such as elongation at break (E-at-B), are inherently destructive. While other non-destructive methods such as indenter evaluation are available, they are not suitable for in-service use. We propose that second harmonic generation (SHG) could provide a non-destructive means of characterizing the aging of chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSPE) cable jackets. SHG was used to study cables previously aged and characterized by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). Comparative data between the SHG results and indenter modulus tests suggest that SHG can be used to qualitatively differentiate between minimally and significantly aged CSPE cable jackets. The results of this proof-of-concept study suggest additional work that could be done to better understand the mechanisms of the aging of CSPE cable jackets and how SHG could be used to monitor the aging process.