Process Parameters on Deep Drawing of Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites

Manufacturing technologies of fiber reinforced plastics (FRPs) are an essential and promising area for the automobile, marine, and aerospace industries in order to cause an increase in production rate, reduction in labor cost, and improvement in processing accuracy. The deep drawing process contributes to rapid processing time, product consistency, complex design, saving material waste, and high cost efficiency. Thermoplastic polymers are suitable to a blank of this process since they soften when heated and harden upon cooling, i.e., a reversible process. Therefore, the development of inexpensive and fast cycle processing technologies for FRPs is a significant key factor to boost the availability of high-strength and lightweight FRPs. Herein, we assess the influence of process parameters on the application of fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites to deep drawing. The interested range in processing temperature is between the glass transition temperature and melting point of thermoplastic composites. The experimental study of deep drawing is undertaken to evaluate the formability of FRP materials. This study found the appropriate temperature distribution through thickness of the blank and the minimum value of the blank holder pressure in order to produce products with good appearance by deep drawing.