Hello,
Does anyone know of a source willing to sell carbon fiber thermoplastic prepregs or carbon fiber thermoplastic sheets (1mm or less thick) in small quantities? I’m interested in unidirectional and woven.
Thermoset prepregs aren’t too hard to find, but finding thermoplastic prepregs is challenging.
Thanks!
There is such a thing as thermoplastic pre preg ???
Never heard of any
There sure are thermoplastic prepregs.
http://composite.about.com/od/eqptprepreggers/a/What-Are-Prepregs.htm
Link says “other types of resin can be used”
Would like a link to an actual data sheet from a supplier ???
The fact that it “can” exist doesn’t mean that it actually does
EC stock thermoplastic pre-preg versions of the Biotex Flax and Jute fabrics:
Haven’t come across a supplier of carbon fibre thermoplastic pre-pregs, but then I haven’t looked either. I know they are definitely out there, there’s a local builder here using PEEK thermoplastic carbon fibre and fibreglass for various applications.
A true thermoplastic is solid at room temp and flows/melts when heated an sets when cooled an will continue this cycle
The easy comp flax is thermosetting even thou they call it a thermoplastic ?
I know vw spent over a year using that system or one very similar trying to make a flax door for a Toureg as there was a EU grant to get renewable fibres into the auto industry.
Took about 70 attempts but they got there in the end
Peek is adding the granules of plastic to chopped up fibre normally and compression moulding an giving you the Lamborghini"marble" Finnish items
Guess you could make a 1mm sheet from it like the OP was after ?
The Easy Composites system isn’t thermosetting, it can be remelted and reshaped indefinitely. I’ve got a few sample pieces that I’ve played around with, have made several different shapes with the same pieces.
Hanaldo,
Thanks for the link! Not carbon fiber, but it may be an option.
BTW, there are many suppliers for thermoplastic carbon fiber prepreg. The problem is many/most make it to customer specifications. Thus, they are typically only willing to work with large orders. Here are some manufacturers/suppliers:
http://www.vectorams.com/thermoplastic-prepreg-products/
http://www.porcher-ind.com/fr/marches/composites-composites-thermoplastiques-pipreg-_2_3_10.html?lang=en
http://www.jonam.co.uk/products/prepreg/prepreg.html
https://www.victrex.com/en/news/2013/03/carbon-fiber-composite-brackets-made-from-victrex-peek-polymer-reduce-fuel-costs-on-next-generation-aircraft
http://www.tohotenax.com/products/tenax®-composites/tenax®-prepreg/
http://www.fiberforge.com/thermoplastic-composites/thermoplastic-composite-materials.php
http://www.aonixcorp.com
Mmmm interesting i might just have to get a sample !
http://www.tencate.com/advancedcomposites/product-compare-tool/TC910.aspx
Had some samples of some of the Tencate products around the shop and they’re pretty cool but definitely focused on production runs. Cycle temps and pressures are quite high. Have never heard of anyone reselling small quantities in an easy to find way.
I’ve never heard about thermoplastic prepregs
I always thought that sort of process did everything inline - I.e. Pellets are melted and mixed with the cf before it goes into the mold.
It would be cheaper and fairly easy to do it that way if you have what you need to melt the pellets. It would be very easy to use precise ratios of plastic to fiber too. You would just weigh both before you start.
I am assuming it isn’t sold in small quantities because it is mainly an industrial process utilizing those uber expensive injection molds so it doesn’t lend itself to low volume small shop or hobby work.
Do you mind if I ask what it’s for?