MODELING OF HEAT-TRANSFER AND CRYSTALLIZATION IN THERMOPLASTIC COMPOSITE TAPE PLACEMENT PROCESS

The crystallization behavior of thermoplastic composites during the ta pe placement process has been analyzed. A heat transfer analysis has b een carried out using a finite element method. The heat transfer analy sis is coupled with a crystallization kinetics model to predict the re sulting morphology. In order to determine the heat intensity that coul d be applied to the laminate, a degradation kinetics model is added. T he degradation kinetics model thus provides an upper bound for the hea t input. The models relate the process parameters (e.g., roller veloci ty, roller pressure, heat input) to temperature and crystallinity dist ributions and degradation weight loss. These models are incorporated i nto a computer code to generate numerical results. By using this code, process conditions which are favorable to consolidation and also like ly to produce optimum crystallinity levels are identified.