High strength thermoplastic composite hybrids containing random and oriented fiber reinforcements
- Johnson Controls, Inc., Milwaukee, WI (United States)
Polypropylene-based composites containing hybrid reinforcements of random and oriented fibers were developed by combining Glass Mat Thermoplastic (GMT) composite sheets with thin tapes containing unidirectional fibers. The idea of this construction is to use GMT to form the basic shape of a composite structure while adding oriented tape at strategic locations for additional reinforcement according to the load requirement. Compression molding was used to laminate GMT sheets and oriented tapes in various combinations of tape arrangement. Room temperature bending tests showed that beam deflection could be improved by 33% when it was reinforced with one layer of the glass tape on the tension side and up to 71% when reinforced with one layer each of the carbon tape on the tension and compression sides. Finite Element Analyses showed the deflection of hybrid beams under different loading conditions agreed well with the experimental data. The hybrid concept was also successfully applied to an automotive seat cushion frame in which glass and carbon tapes were molded-in at the high stress area under production conditions, indicating that this concept is both feasible and practical for automotive structural applications.
- OSTI ID:
- 577602
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-970431-; TRN: 98:000974-0025
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: United new generation vehicle conference and exposition, Detroit, MI (United States), 7-10 Apr 1997; Other Information: PBD: 1997; Related Information: Is Part Of Advanced composites - proceedings; PB: 639 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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