Automated fibre placement process for a new hybrid material: A numerical tool for predicting an efficient heating law

An innovative hybrid thermoplastic manufacturing process has been investigated, which consists in carbon fibres reinforced poly(ether-ether-ketone) (PEEK) prepreg sandwiched between two amorphous polyetherimide (PEI) films. By using a laser-assisted automated fibre placement (AFP), laminate is produced by the deposition of tapes, layer-by-layer without autoclave. The temperature history control required to ensure good consolidation throughout part. This depends on optical behaviour material, also subjected influence parameters. Before determining properties new correlation these parameters established based interaction laser spot with PEI film and PEEK/carbon tape. Then, thermal distribution obtained via an optico-thermal model validated experimental results. Finally, heating law for AFP iterative numerical simulations.