| Abstract [eng] |
This paper reviews AM technologies, their potential applications in composite structure manufacturing, and their capabilities and limitations. In addition, five MEX processes that can be used in the production of continuous fibre reinforced composite production are analysed. Moreover, towpreg preparation methods, which are used for CFRC production, and their benefits for composites are reviewed. Also, various types of biopolymers, their origins, advantages and disadvantages, and their potential applications in AM are discussed. The paper also describes the preparation process of synthetic towpregs, which were used in the additive manufacturing of composite structures. Continuous synthetic fibres were embedded with PHBH/PBS blend biopolymer matrix by applying the melt impregnation method, and the quality of the fibre impregnation was determined by the ASTM D4018 standard, which has shown that it is difficult to properly impregnate synthetic fibres with PHBH/PBS biopolymer and that each synthetic fibre type brings different processing challenges. Additionally, pull-out tests were conducted to determine the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of synthetic fibres and biopolymers, as well as the effect of impregnation on IFSS, which showed that unimpregnated synthetic fibres are more compatible with the PHBH/PBS blend biopolymer than with the PHA matrix by 39%, and that synthetic fibre impregnation improves IFSS with biopolymers. Moreover, composite structures composed of PHA or PHBH/PBS blend biopolymers and synthetic fibres were additively manufactured by applying the towpreg co-extrusion method, in accordance with ASTM D3039 and ASTM D7264 standards. Tensile and flexural tests on these composite structures were performed, which results provided that these structures exhibit superior mechanical properties compared to pure biopolymers. Additionally, fibre, matrix, and air void content in a composite structure were determined in accordance with ASTM D2734 standard. |
