Technical data on advanced thermoplastic composite technology
development eco-friendly advantages of the technology licences for more information on the range of thermoplastic composite profiles and prepregs Imhotep offer a range of R&D and development services in process and product development, and product design in thermoplastic composite. See our services section for more details on what Imhotep can do for you for more information on the advantages of a thermoplastic matrix over a conventional thermoset, significance of continuous fibres, information on failure behaviour, and general information on composites see our background on composites section    Click for more information on Imhotep the company, press articles and papers	Gel-coated pultrusion Advantages of the technology product benefits provided by the technology Fracture behaviour of coated composite profiles
	Gel-coated pultrusion This description could be considered to be simplistic as the process is more versatile than that. The technology produces a unidirectionally continuously reinforced thermoplastic composite profile with the outward appearance of an extrusion, but with the mechanical performance of a conventional fibreglass pultrusion. The process allows reinforcements levels of between 0 and 60% by volume across the profile enabling a wide range of stiffnesses to be generated. Although only simple profiles are being manufactured at the moment the technology could easily be used in a wide range of thermoplastic extruded profiles to improve their performance.   Advantages of the process technology Profiles are reinforced with continuous fibre reinforcement to give higher stiffness and strength over the polymer or short/long fibre reinforced polymer alone. The process technology enables the production of complex selectively reinforced profiles using a single conventional extruder. Multistreaming, combinations of fibres, rich colours and polymer coatings can all be incorporated into the profile design. Raw materials costs are lower then many competing thermoplastic composite process technology as the process does not involve any intermediate product stages. The process is applicable to an extensive selection of polymers to give a wide range of component properties. As the glass fibres do not pass through the extruder, no abrasive damage to the barrel or screw occurs. The fibre volume fraction can be varied from 0 to ~70% by volume around the profile. technology enables use of reclaimed or recycled plastics with minimal effect on the end product’s mechanical properties Product benefits provided by the technology Greater component robustness over thermoset matrix composites due to the tougher nature of thermoplastics. Parts can be thermoformed to shape in-line or end fittings welded on. Profiles can be produced with a thick polymer coating to protect users from splinters and ensure that if it does break it does so in a benign way producing no long shards the thick coating not only protects the fibres but can be richly coloured: fluorescent, and other finishes are available   Fracture behaviour of coated composite profiles Due to the polymer coating if theprofiles do break, they do so in a benign way without producing long shards or splinters which has gained a favourable response from customers used to traditional fibreglass. The difference in behaviour between the two types of composite can be seen below. Behaviour up to the yield point is similar, but after yield, the behaviour changes. The thermoplastic composite does not suffer the rapid drop in load as seen in thermoset composites. After yield the thermoplastic composite appears to undergo plastic deformation, more commonly seen in pure thermoplastics and metals. Handling the product is also less problematic because of the polymer rich surface.
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