Stamp forming of partially consolidated CF/PEEK tape preforms produced in a high-speed automated tape laying process

To achieve short cycle times, CF/PEEK tape preforms are laid up quickly in ATL, thus tape preforms are only partially consolidated. Different gas volume flows are set to vary the energy input during tape laying at 1 m/s. The tape preforms are characterized by means of thickness measurements, microsection analysis, peel-test, compression thermal analysis and flexural test to assess the degree of consolidation. Subsequently to ATL, tape preforms are processed in stamp forming at different pressure settings in a rapid-closing downstroke press. The resulting laminates are analyzed to assess the influence of tape preform consolidation and molding pressure. The results reveal a dependency between gas volume flow during automated tape laying and consolidation of the correspondent tape preforms. Laminate quality of specimen after stamp forming is independent to the tape preform consolidation according to the results of this investigation.