DETAILED MICROSTRUCTURE CHARACTERISATION OF 3D PRINTED CARBON-FIBRE/PEEK USING X-RAY COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY

Silvano Sommacal*, John Holmes, Alexander Matschinski, Klaus Drechsler, Paul Compston

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

    Abstract

    Extrusion-based processes offer the possibility of producing carbon fibre reinforced composite (CFRC) components for lightweight construction of virtually any size and shape. However, many challenges still need to be addressed before their widespread adoption. Chief amongst them is the presence of defects and the material's anisotropic and heterogeneous internal structure. In this study, X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) has been utilised to analyse, characterise and compare two suites of five 3D printed short CF/PEEK samples and the two commercial feedstock materials used to produce them. Main material constituents (fibres, matrix, voids) have been identified and segmented, their distribution mapped and visualised in 3D and respective volume fractions quantified. Voids have been individually labelled and their key geometrical characteristics extracted and analysed. Similarly, preferential fibre orientation has been measured. Furthermore, the effect of key 3D printing parameters on samples' microstructure has been assessed.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationCharacterization
    EditorsAnastasios P. Vassilopoulos, Veronique Michaud
    PublisherComposite Construction Laboratory (CCLab), Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL)
    Pages644-651
    Number of pages8
    ISBN (Electronic)9782970161400
    Publication statusPublished - 2022
    Event20th European Conference on Composite Materials: Composites Meet Sustainability, ECCM 2022 - Lausanne, Switzerland
    Duration: 26 Jun 202230 Jun 2022

    Publication series

    NameECCM 2022 - Proceedings of the 20th European Conference on Composite Materials: Composites Meet Sustainability
    Volume3

    Conference

    Conference20th European Conference on Composite Materials: Composites Meet Sustainability, ECCM 2022
    Country/TerritorySwitzerland
    CityLausanne
    Period26/06/2230/06/22

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