The new "solubilizer" helps the application of carbon fiber thermoplastic composite materials in precision components such as semiconductors
In the field of precision components such as semiconductors and electronics, there is a demand for composite materials with excellent electrical conductivity and high levels of antistatic properties. In the past, maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) was used as a "compatibilizer" to promote the mixing of carbon fiber and resin, but this method is through point-to-point bonding between carbon fiber and resin, which has insufficient interface adhesion performance and affects conductivity. Defects such as performance.
Japan`s Kanazawa University of Technology and Sanyo Kogyo Co., Ltd. have developed a “compatibilizer” that can promote the mixing of carbon fiber and resin. This iPP-PAA (isotactic polypropylene polyacrylic acid copolymer) uses a compatibilizer to Carbon fiber and resin are combined through the surface to improve the interfacial adhesion. The same applies to short carbon fibers with a length of 0.1-50mm. It not only ensures the excellent electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of carbon fiber composite materials, but also improves the moldability of thermoplastic carbon fiber composite materials such as injection and extrusion, which is conducive to promoting the in-depth application of thermoplastic carbon fiber composite materials in precision components such as semiconductors.
Carbon fiber application technology
New prepreg production equipment helps carbon fiber thermoplastic composite materials expand market application scale
Continuous carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite material is a composite material with continuous carbon fiber as the reinforcement and thermoplastic resin as the matrix. It has the advantages of light weight, high strength, good impact damage tolerance, repeatability and rapid prototyping. In recent years, the market demand for this high-performance composite material in the field of aircraft and transportation that emphasizes energy saving has been increasing. However, compared to chopped and powdered carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites, the manufacturing technology of continuous carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites is facing a bottleneck, especially the domestic market has always relied on high-priced imports, which is difficult to meet the actual application needs. This is because the melt viscosity of thermoplastic resins such as PEEK, PI, and PEKK is very large, and it is difficult to uniformly impregnate carbon fibers. If the two cannot be fully fused, the strength and other properties of the composite material will be significantly affected.
Therefore, to expand the application of continuous carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composite materials, we must first solve the problem of the thermoplastic resin matrix impregnating the carbon fiber completely. The Wuxi Zhishang New Materials R&D team has jointly developed a new type of continuous carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic unidirectional prepreg equipment through cooperation with prepreg production equipment manufacturers. The optimized equipment has effectively improved the degree of carbon fiber infiltration of thermoplastic resins. The performance indicators of the continuous carbon fiber reinforced PP, PEEK and other composite materials have reached the international advanced technology level, and will have a direct effect on expanding the market application scale.
Carbon fiber unidirectional prepreg tape
New connection method helps carbon fiber thermoplastic composite materials to enhance the effect of lightweight application
Compared with traditional thermosetting carbon fiber composite materials, the connection methods of thermoplastic carbon fiber composites are more diverse, which brings more potential value for the in-depth application of the material. Triumph Group, an aircraft structure supplier, recently developed a thermoplastic elevator. The elevator structure was made of unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite material for the first time. The Gulfstream (Gulfstream) G650 business jet has used induction welded thermoplastic elevators, rudders and floors produced by GKN Fokker. The new flagship model G700 will also use the same structure.
Thermoplastic carbon fiber composite structural components assembled by induction welding can greatly reduce the drilling process and the use of fasteners. Compared with traditional thermosetting carbon fiber composite materials, it can reduce the weight by 10%-15%, and the cost can be at least reduced. 20%, the weight is reduced by 10%, which is of great significance to the aviation industry with higher lightweight requirements.