FLOW STABILITIES DURING THE SQUEEZE FLOW OF MULTIAXIAL LAMINATES

This paper examines the effect that ply arrangement has on the process ing characteristics of aligned long fiber reinforced composite laminat es. Mon specifically, this study focuses on the difference between the consolidation squeeze flow behavior of unidirectional and multiaxial ply laminates. A commercially produced material tape composed of align ed carbon fibers in a thermoplastic PEEK matrix (APC-2) was used to co nstruct the laminates. Using specially designed hot platens, constant platen closure rate squeeze flow experiments were performed on 70 ply unidirectional [0 degrees] laminates. Flow visualization techniques we re then used to measure the velocity profile of the material during fl ow. Similar squeeze flow experiments were also carried out on macro-pl y [0(14),90(14),0(7)](s) and cross-ply [0 degrees,90 degrees](18s) lam inates. Comparisons are made between the generated squeeze forces and macroscopic flow deformation of the three laminate configurations.