Flexible Towpregs and Their Thermoplastic Composites

Thermoplastic matrix composites have attracted much attention in the composites industry due to their easy processibility and improved impact properties. Although there are many books on thermoplastic composites available, none emphasize flexible towpregs and their composite properties. This book discusses various methods of manufacturing flexible towpregs, their properties, their textile preforming behavior, the properties of textile preform, and the properties of final composites. FEATURES - Gives readers a complete view of composite manufacturing - Offers details on flexible prepregs that other books overlook, such as manufacturing methods, influence of processing parameters, and properties - Includes explanations that cover all steps of manufacturing with examples - Features case studies and homework exercises for all chapters to reinforce understanding - Provides technological information, discussion, and analysis of problems related to all types of flexible towpregs, such as commingling, electrostatic powder coating, wrapped hybrid yarns, micro-braided hybrid yarns, core-spun hybrid yarns, and others This book is aimed at readers working with composite materials, industrial textiles, and related areas to understand the significance of thermoplastic composites made through textile performance of flexible towpregs.

Dr. R. Alagirusamy is a Professor in the Department of Textile and Fibre Engineering at Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT Delhi), India. He completed his Ph.D. from Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA in the field of textile preforming for composite applications using thermoplastic powder coated carbon towpregs. He has published more than 100 research articles in the international journals and conferences. He has also authored, edited books and contributed book chapters and monograms in the area of textile structures used in composite applications. His research areas of interest are textile performing for composites, hybrid yarn development for thermoplastic composites, natural fibre composites and structure property relations in spun yarns.

1. Introduction to Thermoplastic Composites 2. Towpreg Manufacturing Techniques 3. Natural Fibres-Based Hybrid Towpregs 4. Properties of Bio-Composites Made with Thermally Bonded Roving Towpregs 5. Commingled Towpregs and Their Composites 6. Powder Coated Towpregs and Their Composites 7. Characterization of Flexible Towpregs 8. Textile Preforming of Towpregs 9. Modelling the Consolidation of Flexible Towpregs 10. Manufacture of Composites with Flexible Towpregs 11. Flexible Towpreg Structure and Composite Properties 12. Towpreg-Based Thermoplastic Composites for Electromagnetic Shielding 13. Flexible Towpregs and Thermoplastic Composites for Civil Engineering Applications 14. Potential Application Areas for Thermoplastic Composites 15. Future Trends in Towpreg-Based Thermoplastic Composites