Title: Adding Continuous Fiber Layers Reduces the Variability of Discontinuous Fiber Composites Made from Repurposed Aerospace Prepregs

Authors: Troy Nakagawa, Seunghyun Ko, Guy Houser, Marco Salviato

DOI: 10.33599/nasampe/s.22.0726

Abstract: In this study, the flexure properties of Discontinuous Fiber Composites (DFCs) made from repurposed aerospace materials are investigated. Laminates were made by the Composite Recycling Technology Center using recycled prepreg using two platelet sizes with the same width and varied length. Several DFCs panels were investigated along with hybrid plates in which combination of DFCs and unidirectional and textile tapes were used. The study reveals that increasing the platelet length leads to an increase in flexure properties, but also an increase in coefficient of variation. In contrast, with an increase in thickness, the variation is found to diminish. Thanks to the addition of the unidirectional plies, the hybrid composites had increased flexure properties and decreased variation. In particular, the study showed that adding unidirectional laminae can be a very effective way to reduce the variability of the mechanical behavior that pathologically afflicts DFCs made from repurposed materials. This is a quintessential condition to extend the application of hybrid continuous-discontinuous fiber composites to secondary structural applications.

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Conference: SAMPE 2022

Publication Date: 2022/05/23

SKU: TP22-0000000726

Pages: 12

Price: $24.00