Development of thermoplastic-based fibre metal laminates

• Main Author: Ma, Hau Yee
• Other Authors: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Aeronautical engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/49365
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Tensile and impact properties are important mechanical properties for loading-bearing materials. They are important selection criteria when incorporating as a structural element for transportation use, especially for aerospace. In the era of rising fuel cost and environmental awareness, weight and recyclability have also become an important criterion. The material studied here was a thermoplastic-based fibre-metal laminate (FML), which consisted of a self-reinforced polypropylene composite (Tegris) sandwiched between aluminium sheets, with a polyolefin-based adhesive film (INTEGRAL E100) as an interlayer adhesive. The properties were tested and compared to aluminium and the thermoplastic composites. The FMLs were fabricated using a one step hot press procedure with a 2/1 configuration in an aluminium mould designed by the author. Throughout the fabrication, the interlayer adhesion revealed to be a critical property and major challenge. Several measures were to taken to enhance interlayer adhesion.