MODELING THE MICROSTRUCTURAL EVOLUTION OF THERMOPLASTIC COMPOSITES

We present a new model for simulating the microstructural evolution an d transformation kinetics of semi-crystalline thermoplastic composites . The model is based on a front-tracking method coupled with a cellula r discretization to track the microstructural evolution. The model can predict not only the shape and size distribution of the spherulites i n the sample, but also the shape of the lamellae within each of the sp herulites. It is, to our knowledge, the first method which accurately models the impingement between spherulites and inclusions for a macros copic sample. We compare our results with experiments and demonstrate the versatility of the model by using it to study the effect of differ ent nucleation conditions on the final microstructure of fiber reinfor ced thermoplastic matrix composites. We show the effect of transcrysta llinity on the transformation kinetics and microstructural evolution. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.