The use of high performance continuous fibre reinforced thermoplastic composites offer improved matrix properties over epoxy composites, providing significant improvements in toughness, environmental resistance and potential for low cost manufacturing techniques. These benefits have resulted in Westland Engineering undertaking substantial work to introduce these materials into aerospace structural applications. This work has included development in joining techniques where deviations from existing technology have been validated. The joining techniques related to thermoplastic composite materials can be classed into four groups; mechanical fastening, structural adhesive bonding, amorphous bonding and fusion welding. The paper will cover only two of the many types of thermoplastic composite materials that have been selected for products manufactured by Westland. This will be followed by an overall apraisal of each of the four groups of joining techniques, related to the two materials.
Joining technology for thermoplastic composite structures in aerospace applications
Verbindungstechniken für Strukturen an thermoplastischen Verbundwerkstoffen in der Luft- und Raumfahrt
1991
12 Seiten, 5 Bilder, 5 Quellen
Conference paper
English
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