Shape-preserving property of the carbon fabric with a thermal bonding layer

Based on the problem of shape-preserving property of complex geometry shape preform, a kind of new fabric with thermal bonding layers was designed in our work. From the apparent view, it can be seen that the carbon cloth was attached with a layer of thermal bonding layer structure. The two adjacent carbon fabrics can be bonded together by the thermal bonding layers through hot press actions. Because of the particular characteristics, this type of fabrics can help to achieve the overall integrity of complex geometry shape preform. This kind of particular fabric with thermal bonding layers was prepared by 3D weaving process using carbon fiber and thermoplastic nylon fiber. To evaluate the effect of thermal bonding layers on shape-preserving property of fabric, the fabrics were prepared with five different contents of thermoplastic nylon fiber. And the pure carbon cloth without thermoplastic nylon fiber was also prepared as control group. The shape-preserving property of fabric was evaluated by single-wing springback test and fabric peeling test in the 0° and 90° direction. The experimental results show that the effect on shape-preserving property of fabric enhanced with the increase of contents of thermoplastic nylon fiber, and the shape-preserving property of fabric was more significant in 0° direction compared with 90° direction.