ABSTRACT
Work at the National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center (NSF S&TC) for High Performance Polymeric Adhesives and Composites at Virginia Tech has focused on the emerging technology of dry powder prepregging as a method of overcoming thermoplastics’ high melt viscosities. This paper will describe the operation of the dry powder prepregging system developed at Virginia Tech. The primary system uses an electrostatic fluidized bed deposition chamber for polymer powder quantities of approximately 500 grams or more. The electrostatic fluidized bed is replaced with a minimal polymer powder deposition system for use with developmental polymers. This system is capable of quality composite production from polymer samples as small as 50 grams and has been used extensively in the NSF S&TC for the performance verification of state-of-the-art polymers.
In addition to describing the operation of the system and function of its components, this paper will compare the prepreg produced by the two variations of the dry powder prepregging system. Furthermore, mechanical properties of composites manufactured from dry powder prepreg will be compared with those of composites manufactured from traditional melt impregnated prepreg.
