1. What types of thermoplastic carbon fiber composites are there?

Carbon fiber thermoplastic composite material is a composite material with carbon fiber as the reinforcing raw material and thermoplastic epoxy resin as the base material. In terms of carbon fiber reinforcement methods, it can be divided into long carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites (LCF), chopped carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites (SCF), and continuous carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites (CCF).

Long carbon fiber and short carbon fiber mainly refer to the length of carbon fiber raw material used. There is no strict and fixed difference between them. As a rule, they range from 1 mm to 3 cm, and the more common size is 6mm., 12mm, 20mm, 30mm, 50mm. The shorter the length, the easier it is to spread evenly and randomly throughout the epoxy matrix. However, the physical properties of thermoplastic composites reinforced with short carbon fiber or long carbon fiber are far inferior to thermoplastic composites reinforced with continuous carbon fiber.

Carbon fiber thermoplastic composite materials can also be classified according to thermoplastic epoxy resin. There are many common thermoplastic epoxy resins, such as PE, PP, PVC, etc., but carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic epoxy resin composite materials , mainly used in the aerospace industry In the office environment with high requirements, such as high-precision machinery and equipment, a large number of carbon fiber thermoplastic composite materials are made of polyetherketone (PEEK), PPS, polyimide (PI), methacrylatimide (PAI) and other medium to high grade thermoplastic epoxy resins are used as the base material, and the raw material properties are optimally controlled by the “strong combination” method.

2. How does thermoplastic carbon fiber composite provide low cost and environmental protection?

Thermoplastic carbon fiber composite materials are suitable for the manufacture of high-tech mechanical equipment parts. At a certain temperature, it can be shaped again. Based on the characteristics of the raw material itself, the characteristics of recyclability and the environment are taken into account. protection.

For example, Teijin Japan was able to develop plans and purchase processes in the production process based on unique requirements, crush the carbon fiber thermoplastic composite material residues after mold stamping, process them by injection molding, and turn them into recycled materials.From It can be used to make small to medium sized items or be used to injection mold nuts on carbon fiber specimens. This method can greatly reduce the consumption of raw materials, improve the utilization efficiency of carbon fiber thermoplastic composites, reduce the overall cost, and thus achieve the goal of environmental protection.

In addition, compared with carbon fiber thermoset plastic composites, carbon fiber thermoplastic composites can shorten the molding cycle time due to their unique processing characteristics, which can further reduce the cost of the product in terms of productivity.

3. Are thermoplastic carbon fiber composite materials only suitable for injection molding process?

In terms of processing technology, compared with compression molding, injection molding technology has a higher level of automation technology, and the raw material does not come into contact with the outside, so the quality of the product appearance is guaranteed, and small black spots, residue, color uneven etc. will not. The problem is that the physical performance, dimensional stability and accuracy of the product are relatively higher.

At present, when carbon fiber giants such as Toray in Japan use carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites, they mainly use injection molding process, and this method is suitable for the production of complex-shaped parts and mass production. However, it should be noted that carbon fiber thermoplastic composites using the injection molding process must be reinforced with chopped or powdered carbon fibers. This process is not suitable for continuous carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites.

Compared with injection molding equipment, compression molding equipment and mold design are relatively simple, and the product cost is lower. Compression molding equipment can be used for both thermosetting resin and thermoplastic epoxy resin. In terms of molding thermoplastic carbon fiber products, Noen Composite Materials fully relies on the experience of producing thermoset carbon fiber parts. The use of compression molding to make carbon fiber thermoplastic composite parts causes less damage to the material and does not cause too much damage. When used in mass production, the price is more affordable than injection molding.