Fracture Toughness
Our lightweight thermoplastic veils deliver a proven increase in the interlaminar fracture toughness of fibre reinforced composites of up to 430%.
Properties
Enhancing Interlaminar Fracture Toughness
WIth lightweight thermoplastic veils
Composites can exhibit low interlaminar fracture toughness (ILFT) and be prone to interlaminar failure under both Mode-I and Mode-II loadings, ultimately compromising the mechanical performance of the structure. We have developed a range of thermoplastic veils which deliver a proven increase in the interlaminar fracture toughness of a composite.
The veils are easy to handle and incorporate into the composite lay-up, they are interleaved between the reinforcement plies before the structure is infused with resin and prevent the formation of a resin only layer which is more susceptible to mechanical failure.
Fibre Type
Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), Polyether imide (PEI), Polyester, Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and Polyimide (PI)
Fracture Toughness Improvement
Mode I - up to 430% and Mode II - up to 350%
Areal Weights
5 - 100 g/m²
“This improvement is achieved by interleaving the lightweight thermoplastic veils between the reinforcement plies and then infusing the structure with resin. Our thermoplastic veils have been proven to engineer a significant improvement in the Mode-I and particularly Mode-II fracture toughness, for the latter an improvement of up to 350% and 430% (for initiation and propagation respectively) can be achieved. ”
Lightweight
- Minimum weight addition
- From 5 g/m2
Performance
- Mode I increase of up to 350%
- Mode II increase of up to 430%
Processing
- Easy to handle
- Conformable
- High porosity ensures ease of wet out
- Compatible with all common resins
Related Content
Fracture Toughness Webinar
Our Technology Manager Dr. Mandy Clement discusses how composites can be prone to failure via delamination and how our nonwovens, when used as ‘composite enhancing interleaves’, can provide a solution to this.
Typical Applications
Bicycles, Skis, Rackets, hockey sticks and more...
Sporting goods, such as bicycles, skis and paddles must exhibit excellent tolerance to impact and shear pressures. Our thermoplastic veil reduce the susceptibility to damage, maximising performance and durability.
Aerostructures
The integrity and durability of aerocomposites can be improved by the addition of our thermoplastic veils, reducing crack formation and propagation when the component is under pressure.
Blades
Our lightweight thermoplastic veils reduce the susceptibility to damage of wind turbine blades, increasing service time.
Learn more about Composite solutions below:
Markets
We offer an extensive range of technical nonwovens, already qualified in aero composites and AS9100 certified, that can improve the appearance, function and ease of fabrication of AAM composites and solve a range of technical challenges faced in eVTOL aircraft and drone design. All our materials are designed specifically for use in composites, ensuring compatibility with all common resins and manufacturing techniques as well as ease of integration & use.
James Cropper Advanced Materials customers are among the largest aerospace manufacturers in the world, including many Fortune 100 and 500 companies. Our portfolio of products are in use on most commercial aircraft, delivering surface finish solutions, improved processing, light weighting efficiency solutions, and more.
Our materials are highly versatile, serving a wide array of sporting goods including bicycles, hockey sticks, tennis racquets, skis, and archery equipment.
Our nonwovens deliver specific functionality to leading renewable energy companies composite wind turbines, including surface finish and fire protection inside nacelles.