CN111941988A

CN111941988A - Rolling equipment for bonding continuous layers of composite materials and using method thereof

Info

Publication number: CN111941988A
Application number: CN201910403095.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 阳军; 吴景深; 陈海滨
Original assignee: Guangzhou HKUST Fok Ying Tung Research Institute; Hong Kong University of Science and Technology HKUST
Current assignee: Guangzhou HKUST Fok Ying Tung Research Institute; Hong Kong University of Science and Technology HKUST
Priority date: 2019-05-15
Filing date: 2019-05-15
Publication date: 2020-11-17

Abstract

The invention provides a rolling device for bonding continuous layers of a composite material and a use method thereof, wherein the composite material comprises a first layer of laminate and a second layer of laminate which are tightly attached, and at least one of the first layer of laminate and the second layer of laminate is provided with a conductive reinforcement; comprises a pinch roller, a pinch roller moving driving system, a pinch roller rolling driving system, an electrode and an electrode moving system. The pressing wheel comprises a pressing wheel for pressing the composite material, and the pressing wheel comprises an upper pressing wheel and a lower pressing wheel; the electrodes include a first electrode and a second electrode, and the electrode moving system moves the first electrode and the second electrode and brings the first electrode and the second electrode into contact with the first end and the second end, respectively, thereby forming a passage. The rolling equipment provided by the invention can be used for continuously and rapidly bonding the composite material layers, the whole process is simple to operate, high in efficiency and pollution-free, and the prepared product is stable in quality, high in strength while light in weight is kept, and can be recycled for multiple times.

Description

Rolling equipment for bonding continuous layers of composite materials and using method thereof

Technical Field

The invention relates to rolling equipment and a using method thereof, in particular to rolling equipment for bonding continuous layers of composite materials and a using method thereof.

Background

Composite materials, such as laminated composite materials, are widely applied to various fields such as the land transportation industry, the automobile industry, the ship industry, aerospace and the like because of excellent performances such as light weight, high strength and the like, and have a very optimistic future application prospect and a larger market due to designability and anisotropy. However, the limitations of the traditional interlayer bonding method of the composite material limit the large-scale application of the composite material, the traditional method adopts a solid bonding method, a large amount of manpower resources are consumed for production and manufacturing, and the continuity of production is poor. The mass production and processing cannot be efficiently and rapidly carried out.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the above technical problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a rolling apparatus for continuous interlayer bonding of composite materials, which can perform continuous and efficient production and processing, and can obtain products with stable quality and recycling capability.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions.

The invention provides rolling equipment for bonding continuous layers of a composite material, wherein the composite material comprises a first layer of laminate and a second layer of laminate which are attached to each other, at least one of the first layer of laminate and the second layer of laminate is provided with a conductive reinforcement, the conductive reinforcement is provided with a first end and a second end which are arranged oppositely, and the rolling equipment comprises a pressing wheel, a pressing wheel movement driving system, a pressing wheel rolling driving system, an electrode and an electrode movement system; the pressing wheel comprises a pressing wheel for pressing the composite material, and the pressing wheel comprises an upper pressing wheel and a lower pressing wheel; the electrodes include a first electrode and a second electrode, and the electrode moving system moves the first electrode and the second electrode and brings the first electrode and the second electrode into contact with the first end and the second end, respectively, thereby forming a passage. The electrically conductive reinforcement is herein preferably carbon fibers or metal fibers. The puck movement drive system is used to move the puck, such as up and down vertically. The pinch roller rolling driving system is used for enabling the pinch roller to roll and rotate.

The invention can be used to laminate equal or more than two layers of composite material, wherein the first and second laminates can also be provided with conductive reinforcement. The composite material can also comprise a third layer of laminate, namely a first layer of laminate, a second layer of laminate and a third layer of laminate from inside to outside in sequence. The first and third plies may both be prepregs comprising conductive reinforcement and the second ply is a foam layer which does not comprise conductive reinforcement. Or the first layer of laminate and the third layer of laminate are both foam layers without conductive reinforcements, and the second layer of laminate is prepreg with conductive reinforcements. The composite material can also comprise a fourth layer and a fifth layer of laminates to form a sandwich material with two foam layers and three layers of prepregs inserted and stacked.

Further, the first electrode includes a first upper electrode and a first lower electrode for sandwiching the first end therebetween, and the second electrode includes a second upper electrode and a second lower electrode for sandwiching the second end therebetween.

Further, the pinch roller still includes moulding pinch roller, and moulding pinch roller includes moulding pinch roller and lower moulding pinch roller. The shaping pinch roller prevents the material from being distorted in the cooling process after the material is pressed, and the straight appearance of the material is ensured. The shaping pinch roller is also controlled by a pinch roller movement driving system and a pinch roller rolling driving system.

Further, the pressing wheel movement driving system comprises an electric push rod or an air cylinder. In principle, any means that can move the puck is suitable for this application. The pinch roller rolling driving system comprises a stepping motor, a servo motor or a torque motor. In principle, any device that can drive the pressure roller to roll is suitable for the present application.

Further, the electrode moving system also comprises a pressure regulating valve used for controlling the force for clamping and pressing the conductive reinforcement.

Further, the first layer is a first layer thermoplastic resin laminate and the second layer is a second layer thermoplastic resin laminate. The first and second layers of material in the present application are preferably polyethylene, polypropylene or polyvinyl chloride, and the first and second layers of material are preferably the same thermoplastic resin.

Further, the heating device comprises a preheating device for preheating the part to be heated, and the air heater is preferably used in the application.

The invention also provides a using method of the rolling equipment, which comprises the following steps:

placing: stacking the first layer of laminate and the second layer of laminate on the lower pressing pinch roller;

and (3) laminating: moving the pressing pinch roller through a pinch roller moving driving system to enable the upper pressing pinch roller and the lower pressing pinch roller to clamp the first layer of laminate and the second layer of laminate together and keep pressure;

establishing a path: moving the first electrode and the second electrode with an electrode moving system to contact the first end and the second end of the conductive reinforcement member, respectively, to form a path;

heating the conductive reinforcement: electrifying the first electrode and the second electrode, and cutting off a power supply after heating is finished;

and (3) breaking a path: an electrode movement system moves the first and second electrodes out of contact with the conductive reinforcement;

advancing the material: starting a pressing wheel rolling driving system to enable a lower pressing wheel to roll, so that the heated first layer laminate and the heated second layer laminate are driven to move forward;

repeating the steps of establishing the passage, electrifying, disconnecting the passage and advancing the material until the end;

releasing the pressing: and when the pressing is finished, starting the pressing wheel movement driving system to move the pressing wheel, so that the upper pressing wheel and the lower pressing wheel release the clamping pressure.

Further, before the step of establishing the passage, the preheating device is used for preheating the part to be heated of the first layer of resin, so that the material is in a molten state before being electrified, and the time length of the whole process is further shortened.

Further, in the material advancing step, the heated first layer of laminate and the heated second layer of laminate leave the pressing pinch roller and are sent to a position between the upper shaping pinch roller and the lower shaping pinch roller, so that the material keeps a straight appearance in the heating and cooling process.

The invention has the advantages of

The rolling equipment can continuously and quickly bond the layers of the composite material, the whole process is simple to operate, high in efficiency and pollution-free, the quality of the prepared product is stable, the light weight is kept, the high strength is guaranteed, and the composite material can be recycled for many times.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a rolling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 is a right side view of a rolling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3 is a front sectional view of a rolling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Wherein:

100 roll press

111 upper pressing pinch roller

112 pressing wheel

120 electric push rod

130 stepping motor

1411 first Upper electrode

1412 first lower electrode

1421 second upper electrode

1422 second bottom electrode

150 cylinder

161 upper shaping pinch roller

162 lower shaping pinch roller

Detailed Description

The present invention will be described in detail below in the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Example 1

As shown in fig. 1-3, a rolling device 100 for bonding continuous layers of composite materials includes a pressing roller, an electric push rod 120, a stepping motor 130, electrodes, and an electrode moving system. The stitching press wheels comprise an upper stitching press wheel 111 and a lower stitching press wheel 112 for stitching the composite material. The electrodes include a first upper electrode 1411, a first lower electrode 1412, a second upper electrode 1421, and a second lower electrode 1422. The electrode moving system includes a time relay, a solenoid valve, a cylinder 151, and a pressure regulating valve connected to the solenoid valve. In addition, an upper shaping pressing wheel 161 and a lower shaping pressing wheel 162 are further provided for preventing the composite material from being distorted and deformed in the pressing and cooling stage.

Example 2

The following takes polypropylene laminated composite material as an example to illustrate the specific process steps:

preparing a polypropylene prepreg reinforced by carbon fiber cloth, and preheating a part to be pressed of the prepreg by an air heater for about 20 seconds to ensure that the prepreg is completely heated and reaches the melting point of polypropylene. The layers are stacked in sequence of a polypropylene foam layer, a prepreg and a polypropylene foam layer and are placed on the lower pressing pinch roller 112, the electric push rod 120 is controlled by the electric push rod controller to push downwards, the upper pressing pinch roller 111 and the upper shaping pinch roller 161 are driven to move downwards, the upper pressing pinch roller 111 and the lower pressing pinch roller 112 clamp and press the to-be-bonded area of the laminated composite material together, and the upper shaping pinch roller 161 and the lower shaping pinch roller 162 clamp and press the inter-layer bonded area of the laminated composite material together (if the inter-layer bonded area of the laminated composite material exists). The cylinder 151 is controlled by a time relay through an electromagnetic valve to move, so that the first upper electrode 1411 and the second upper electrode 1421 are driven to press the carbon fiber cloth extending out of the two sides of the prepreg on the first lower electrode 1412 and the second lower electrode 1422 respectively, the first electrode and the second electrode are respectively contacted with the first end and the second end of the carbon fiber cloth which are arranged oppositely, the pressure between the electrodes is adjusted through a pressure adjusting valve, and a passage is formed. And a power supply instrument (not shown) is used for supplying power to the electrodes, so that the carbon fiber cloth is electrified and generates heat, the polypropylene resin of the prepreg keeps melting, the surface to be bonded of the polypropylene foam layer tightly attached to the prepreg is also heated through heat transfer and slightly thermally melts, and the prepreg is fully fused with the upper and lower polypropylene foam layers under the clamping action of the upper pressing pinch roller 111 and the lower pressing pinch roller 112. After heating for 10 seconds, the power supply is cut off, and the pressure is kept for natural cooling for about 20 seconds. Meanwhile, the hot air blower preheats the next part to be pressed of the prepreg. After cooling, the time relay controls the electromagnetic valve to switch the air path, so that the air cylinder 151 contracts and drives the first electrode and the second electrode to be separated from the carbon fiber cloth. The stepping motor 130 drives the lower pressing roller 112 and the lower shaping roller 162 to roll, so as to drive the laminated composite material to move forward, so that the pressed material leaves the processing area and is sent between the upper shaping roller 161 and the lower shaping roller 162, and meanwhile, the next part to be pressed is sent into the processing area. And repeating the process of establishing a passage and electrifying the electrode and the carbon fiber cloth to ensure that the polypropylene resin of the prepreg keeps melting, and the surface to be bonded of the polypropylene foam layer is slightly thermally melted, so as to bond the layers. And circulating the steps until the end. When the pressing process is finished, the upper pressing pinch roller 111 and the upper shaping pinch roller 161 are lifted up under the action of the electric push rod 120, and the material is not clamped any more.

Example 3

The procedure of example 2 is repeated, but the difference is that five laminates, namely a prepreg, a polypropylene foam layer, a prepreg, a polypropylene foam layer and a prepreg, are sequentially stacked on the lower pressing pinch roller 112 in sequence, and finally, the five laminates are bonded in layers to form the five-layer composite material.

It should be understood that the above-mentioned examples of the present invention are merely examples for clearly illustrating the present invention, and are not intended to limit the embodiments of the present invention. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit all embodiments to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. All obvious changes and modifications which are within the technical scope of the invention are covered by the invention.

Claims

1. A rolling device for bonding continuous layers of a composite material, wherein the composite material comprises a first layer of laminate and a second layer of laminate which are attached to each other, at least one of the first layer of laminate and the second layer of laminate is provided with a conductive reinforcement, and the conductive reinforcement is provided with a first end and a second end which are arranged oppositely; the pressing wheel comprises a pressing wheel for pressing the composite material, and the pressing wheel comprises an upper pressing wheel and a lower pressing wheel; the electrodes include a first electrode and a second electrode, and the electrode moving system moves the first electrode and the second electrode and brings the first electrode and the second electrode into contact with the first end and the second end, respectively, thereby forming a passage.

2. The roll apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode includes a first upper electrode and a first lower electrode for sandwiching the first end therebetween, and the second electrode includes a second upper electrode and a second lower electrode for sandwiching the second end therebetween.

3. The roller press apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pinch roller further comprises a shaping pinch roller comprising an upper shaping pinch roller and a lower shaping pinch roller.

4. The roller press apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing wheel movement driving system includes an electric push rod or a cylinder; the pinch roller rolling driving system comprises a stepping motor, a servo motor or a torque motor.

5. The roller apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrode moving system further comprises a pressure regulating valve.

6. The rolling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first laminate is a first thermoplastic resin laminate and the second laminate is a second thermoplastic resin laminate.

7. The rolling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a preheating device.

8. Method for using a rolling device according to claims 1-7, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

and (3) breaking a path: the electrode movement system moving the first and second electrodes out of contact with the conductive reinforcement;

releasing the pressing: and starting the pressing wheel movement driving system to move the pressing wheel, so that the upper pressing wheel and the lower pressing wheel relieve the clamping pressure.

9. Use of a rolling device according to claim 8, characterized in that the portion to be heated is preheated with preheating means before the step of establishing a passage.

10. The method of using the rolling apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the heated first and second laminates are fed between the upper and lower shaping rollers away from the pressing roller during the material advancing step.