Isothermal and non‐isothermal consolidation of carbon fiber towpregs

Abstract The purpose of this work is to establish and validate a model to predict the isothermal and non‐isothermal consolidation behavior of unidirectional towpregs, made of carbon fibers and a thermoplastic polymer. A Finite Difference Method program was devised based on a set of analytical expressions developed in a previous work. The program allows the determination of pressure‐displacement curves at constant press closing speed and fixed or variable molding temperature, allowing comparison with experimental data obtained in the same conditions. There was good agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental results for both the isothermal and non‐isothermal consolidation. However, in the former case, the agreement was limited to low closing speeds and long pre‐heating times. In the latter case these limitations did not exist, showing that the non‐isothermal model is a good tool for the optimization of the consolidation process.