Composite meets other Plastics

Composites United West: Jour Fixe from 17 January 2022
Contact: Dr. Heinz Kolz (heinz.kolz@composites-united.com)

"Hybrid composite designs offer a wide range of combination and application possibilities. For example, components can be designed to be maximally lightweight if the continuous fiber reinforcement is positioned only along the main load paths. Less performant materials (e.g. injection molding material), which are often less cost-intensive, then take over functions for stiffening the component or integrating load introduction elements. This process was impressively demonstrated using injection-molded components from the aerospace industry (tension/compression strut with press insert), commercial vehicle technology (coupling rod with tape/wrap insert) and medical technology (pedicle screw with UD insert). Hybrid plastic construction methods are also advantageous in the construction industry. For example, the cost-effective combination of FRP pultrusion rods and flat FRP fabric structures made it possible to attach facade panels to the load-bearing wall without creating cold bridges due to metallic components. The combination of continuous fiber reinforced CF tape with unreinforced 3D printing material is completely new. This allows, for example, an orthosis to be produced individualized with the 3D printer and subsequently reinforced in line with the load path."
Dr.-Ing. Nicole Motsch-Eichmann, Leibniz-Institut für Verbundwerkstoffe GmbH (discussion leader).