Repair of thermoplastic composites: an overview
Julieta Barroeta Robles, Martine Dubé, Pascal Hubert, Ali Yousefpour
Abstract
An extensive review of literature is conducted to present the evolution of the field of repair \nof thermoplastic composites (TPC’s) from when it was first mentioned in 1980. The TPC \nmaterials used today in aerospace structures are introduced along with the existing chal- \nlenges to repair TPC structures. The three most promising fusion bonding techniques to \naddress these challenges (i.e. induction, resistance, and ultrasonic welding) are explained. \nThe certification authorities have extensive knowledge and data for repair of thermoset poly- \nmer matrix composite structures. However, such level of knowledge is highly limited for TPC \nstructures. A lack of robust processes and the overall lack of data on TPC’s when compared \nto their thermoset counterparts are challenges that need to be addressed to implement TPC \nmaterials in aircraft structures.