Co-consolidating thermoplastic composite article after thermoforming stiffers

This paper reported an integrated manufacturing process of one thermoplastic composite article with L-shaped stiffers of poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) matrix carbon fiber reinforced composites. It was found that the stiffer margins were not well consolidated by directly press forming after laying up the designed number of fabric in mold. However, a matched-die press thermoforming from the preformed blank solved the problem. The L-shaped stiffers were then fixed in mold to co-consolidate with the multiple fabric for cover flat part and finally bonded to each other. When using such quick forming techniques, the fabrication cost could drop dramatically in large volume production of aerospace composites 3-D structural parts.