Fabrication of hybrid thin ply tapes

Abstract

Thin ply hybrids are composed of at least three different materials: two or more yarns and one binder to fix the final thin ply tape. This study is divided in the steps required to convert the raw materials (carbon, glass, aramid and polyester) into the hybrid thin ply tapes: unwinding of the yarn; spreading of each individual yarn; hybridization, blending and spreading of all the materials, and finally binding and winding the final thin ply hybrid. All these processes are studied individually to determine the effect of each one on different yarns. The more important steps on this hybrid spreading line are the spreading methods and the blending of different materials. Different processes such as ultrasounds, mechanical vibration, convex rollers, air flow, etc, exist to spread the yarns. The choice of this study is to use mechanical vibrations in the individual yarns whereas the second step is performed with vacuum, paying attention to the control of the tension during the entire process. The developed technique allows for production rates from 5 to 20 m/min of hybrid fiber depending on the characteristics of the raw material, showing that the fabrication process of these materials is suitable for industry.