THE THERMOPLASTIC LASER-ASSISTED CONSOLIDATION PROCESS-MECHANICAL ANDMICROSTRUCTURE CHARACTERIZATION

The laser-assisted consolidation process can produce high-quality cont inuous-fiber composite parts in a single consolidation and winding ste p. Parts fabricated using this process were characterized for void con tent, crystallinity, and interlaminar strength and toughness. Optimum interlaminar properties were obtained at intermediate laser powers. In terlaminar properties were poor at high laser powers because of resin degradation. At low laser powers, poor properties were most likely cau sed by insufficient molecular interdiffusion. The void content of part s fabricated using this process was less than 2 percent, and the bulk crystallinity of 29% was not significantly different from that of the original prepreg tape.