Title: Ultra-High-Rate Manufacturing of Thermoplastic Window Plug Using Hybrid Overmolding

Authors: Waruna P. Seneviratne, Jerome Teoh, and Induwara Herath

DOI: 10.33599/nasampe/s.24.0169

Abstract: Highly-loaded complex parts are machined from a solid block of material by removing material through cutting, boring, drilling, and grinding to obtain the three-dimensional shape. Most cases, this involves removing as much as 80 percent of the material from a billet, which is time-consuming and inefficient considering the cost of the materials. Alternatively, these complex parts can be manufactured using hybrid overmolding process which involves injecting plastics over a reinforced substrate with continuous fiber-reinforcement eliminating subtractive machining or joining of multiple parts. The substrate is typically heated using an infrared (IR) oven and preformed over a solid mold to a three-dimensional shape using thermoforming. Injection overmolding material can also be reinforced with discontinuous fibers based on the design requirements. Both thermoforming and injection molding are matured automotive ultra-high-rate manufacturing processes. Adopting these technologies to aerospace requires advanced aerospace-grade thermoplastic material systems and developing the hybrid overmolding process that combines both thermoforming and injection molding processes. Material compatibility is one of the key enablers for the fusion across the overmolded interfaces. To demonstrate the overmolding technology for an aerospace application, Victrex AE250 low-melt polyaryletherketone (LM-PAEK) system reinforced with AS4 fibers and a 30% carbon fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone (PEEK) were used to overmold aircraft window plugs to be used for cargo conversion of passenger aircraft. The fully automated overmolding process was demonstrated using KraussMaffei multi-robotic thermoforming and injection molding system. Thermal and mechanical test evaluations were employed to assess the material compatibility and overall part quality. Photomicrographs and flexure tests conducted on test samples extracted from the window plugs indicated satisfactory fusion across the overmolded interface and optimized holding of PEEK materials.

References: 1.de Gennes, P. G. (1971). “Reptation of a Polymer Chain in the Presence of Fixed Obstacles”. Journal of Chemical Physics, 55(2), 572-579. 2.Sharp, R., Holmes, S., & Wodall, C. (1995). “Material Selection/Fabrication Issues for Thermoplastic Fiber Placement”. Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials, 8(1), 1-14.

Conference: SAMPE 2024

Publication Date: 2024/05/20

SKU: TP24-0000000169

Pages: 15

Price: $30.00