The Influence of Material Processing on the Performance of Composite Parts

The production of composite parts relies on an ever increasing number of processing technologies which have a large impact on the performance of the part. The manufacturing step, or processing, is usually optimized for specific materials by using process simulation tools. Commonly used technologies are injection molding, injection-compression molding, compression molding, fiber draping or placement software. All of these approaches are applied in combination with short, long, and continuous fiber reinforced plastics for additional strength. Composite materials are heavily influenced by the processes used to create the part, which can lead to non-uniform material behavior throughout the final manufactured part, adding another challenge to the design process.