JEC ine me ae my JEC World 2023 Innovation AUT tt ee) Recs Manufacturing Industry 4.0, aerospace nM ago et CRG April - May 2023WME TECHNOLOGY functionalisation 93 Mechanical behaviour of multifunctional composites i Per Dr. Pntca Kea, Comes ron Marans 00 Process IMT Non Eon mst West, Prisons MCV Tremonocm SAS (CVE Technologie has patented EOPROMS a copperbased formulation that allows tracks to be added to various types ‘of matecals, Its Bopromaflex” process uses the sik-screening ‘method and copper metalisation baths ~ similar to those used by the printed circuit industry — for deposition onto flexible fabrics made out ‘ofgass or natural lees, Since its founding in 2019, MCVE has focused on producing fimctionalisedghss fibre materials witha view to integrating them to composites, Over the years, MCVES technology has been validated by roofofconcept ona variety of brs for composite materials in various applications This experience has allowed the company to demonstate the strength of the EOPROM" bonded copper metallstion with bre ds fabri. Indeed, as a result ofits soldersbility, EOPROM creates a robust connection fo pinted electronic functions. "The study ented *Composte materia nstrumentation though integration of functional components printed on fabrics: development, procesabiity and characterisation” was cased out at IMI Nord Europe unde supervision of IMT Professor Patricia Kraweza, plastics and composts expert [| | awn 8 ® JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE / N'150 April - May 2023 MCVE Technologie, in collaboration with the Centre for Materials and Process of IMT Nord Europe, has recently vi qualified the use of its solution for functionalising glass fibre fabrics. This article explains how composite materials can be endowed with electronic functions without compromising the mechanical behaviour for their intended end use. ited and 1 objective was to show that using EOPROM formulations to integrate a fanctionalsd ayer to composite by means ofan infsion process does notaffect the mechanical bebaviour ofthe materia Experiment design Inorderto determine the influence oftrack width three singlelongitudinal lines were designed in widths of 08 mm, 1 mm and 3 mm. Four ‘meanders design, used for eating rei were also designed. There were two longitudinal meanders with differing row pitches and two transversal meanders each witha variable row itch. The ast design wasspecifictothe ‘bendingtest specimens whose imensionsare smile: With the exception ofthe singe ines whose widths vary al other tracks are 1.$ mm wide. Sample manufacturing ‘Tracks were produced by sik screening designs with EOPROM" past (Once silkscreen the samples wer placed ina eying cabine,thenimn- rmersed in various metalation baths. The purpose ofthese baths is to deposit ayer ofcopper over the EOPROM paste Composite plates were manufictured from thefllowing components: ~ Layers ofa enforcement material made of sain gas fabeic that has a neatly balanced weave (52/48) anda weight of 296 g/m’. Samaro material reference PO12768. ~ Alayecoffunctonal ghssibsic (containing copper trac) with nun balanced weave (60/40) and a weight of 202 g/m Prcher material reference 7628, ~ Gust rime 37 resin and AMPREG 3X Slow Hardenes, with amass ratio of 10029. “The dimensions ofthe plates manufactured are 250. 25x72 mm; there are four diffrent configurations Forthe tensile test specimens ~ 224mmthickness = ((O°R),/(@F)/(@R)] For hein plane shearing est specimens ~ 224mmthickness = (G245°R),/ (OF) /(245°R)]ur of multifunctional composites [IN Diagram showing ayer Forthe three-point bend test specimens and short beam shear test specimens: = 445mm thickness = (@R),./(P)/(OR),,] (OR, /OB/OR.] ‘The various plates were manufactured using the infusion process at ambient temperature and at -900 mbar for 16 hours. The plates were demoulded, then post-cured at SS°C for 24 hours. Mechanical characterisation in tension Standard NF EN 150 527-4 [1] was used allowing the longitudinal modulus ofelastcity (8) and tense strength o, tobe determined Displacement was measured via several methods with an extensometer cor through DIC (digital image comelaton), and in some cases adkition- allyby erosshead displacement Inthe case of single longitudinal lines, tensile tet rests indicate @ linear corelation between the copper surface area and the modulss of elatcity. in the case of longitudinal meanders, the increas in umber of meanders (and thus a reduction in the space between meanders) improves modalus In the case of transversal meander the reduction in the space between meanderslowersthe moduias of elasticity value, Result from these tensile strength tests demonstrate that inthe ease of transversal designs anincreasein the numberof coppertrackspredicates adrop intense strength. Further examination ofsngelines eemsto n- dicate thatthereisaline width value at which the drop intense strength ishigher Therefor tineslessthan 2 mm aretobefvoured, Influence of temperature cycling on tensile properties (One ofthe targeted industrial applications isintegration ofahestng tis therefore paramount to checkits impact beforehand. ‘Athermaleycle was applied: ~ Seven 30-minute cycles of thermal cycling, fellow by 30 minutsat ambient temperature ~ Fordesign 19:42V/28A = Fordesign20:34V/23A. ~ Temperature atthe surface = 67°C ~ Temperature ofthe opposite side= 64°C “Thetest specimens subjected to thermal stress were compared to series oftest specimens that were not subjected to thermal sess. Accounting for standard deviations, measurements show thatthe values ‘The following tet parameters were applied: ‘between the test specimens that had been subjected to thermal ying ~ Rate of isplacement: 2mm/min remain very close to those that did not, The impact of temperature Test stopped aftera drop of 40% cydingon the mechanical performance is therefore quite low. Wide ine design 23 « Mo Meander Sen 20 ear design fe vege ine desion22 iin 8 . Meander . = Thane dein 21 = g 0 ; i Se tai + 3 Theterence i 2 0 ° 00 1000 1s00 2000 200 000) | ‘Copper Area in mm!) Uj topper aac en N'150 April - May 2023 / JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE 94WM TECHNOLOGY functionalisation 95 Meander Wide line design 17 : i a i uy Meader design 19 In plane shearing test ‘The second mechanical test performed was the in plane shearing tes, ‘conducted through tensile tests at 45% according to the NF EN ISO 14129 standard, It enabled the in plane shearing modulus G,, and in plane shearing strength, t0 be determined. “The copper presentin the compost involved a drop in plane shearing ‘mosis G,,, Nevertheless the ales remain within he order ofmagni- tude that canbe expected for such amatei “Through these tests, we leat that design oictation can have astrong influence. While longitudinal designs appear tobe fvorabl transversal designs are tobe avoided. Three-point bending test “The third test considered was the three-point bend tet, caried out according to the NF EN ISO 14125 standard. Ie allows the flexural breaking stress¢, andthe flexural moduius(E,) tbe determined, “The impact of copper on the fleural modulus of elasticity appears almost negligible, al the moreso when the functional layers placed near the suefce. The metallisng baths, vital to the manufacturing proces, hhaveno significative impact on bending properties. ‘The presence ofcopperhasa rather positive impact, on both the flerral ‘modilus and the lexual strength. Its therefore possible to integrate functional layersto apiece that will be subject to bending stress without alos of mechanical properties. ‘Metallising baths do not present a significant deviation from the reference, thus no significant deterioration in sizing should occu. Short beam shear test ‘The last test considered was the ILSS shearing test through three-point bend tests, according to the NF EN ISO 14130 standard. It enabled interlaminar shear strength to be determined =, ‘These tests investigated three aspects in particular: the impact of the presence of copper, the impact of metallising baths on sizing, ‘As most test specimens did not delaminate, the value for interlaminar shearing strength could not be quantified. However, the lower bound values obtained remain within the expected orders of magnitude, and no significant drop in value appears. Conclusions from the mechanical tests ‘This study focused on examining the impact of integrating fonction- al components to a composite material. From a general standpoint, the influence ofthese components i quit limited, with the highest impact affecting in plane shearing tess. Inthe case ofan industrial application, integrating functional componentsis therefore conceiv- able, and worth considering. Nevertheless itis advisable to follow a few ecommendations deduced from the present study. Weally, track width should not exceed 2 mm. Track orientation ‘may have an impact It is preferable that tracks be orientated inthe direction ofthe applied stess, especially when the ow pitch smal. Functional component integration has alow impact on bending and on interlaminar shearing, The impact is even lower when placing layees near the surface ather than in the midale of the par. Pursuing research while anticipating the needs of industry On thisbasis, MCVE willbe able to roll out its industrial project, ‘which is to produce high volumes of functional fabrics using its proprietary Eopromiflex* process and roll-to-oll standard electronic printing equipment. These functional fabrics, when made available at industrial prices, will meet the requirements of composite structure manufacturers looking to integrate electronic functions into FRP (Fibre Reinforced Polymers) parts, Because MCVE's Eopromflex* process allows functions ‘000 MP2 28000 MPa 0 reco 26000 Meander Wide line cs ‘Wide line 25000 —~ 23000 00 2aewo — 23000 = 23000 ae 22000 22000 Be a0 Reference. 21000 Reference 2oo00 ome iso ‘ou ‘ato ‘ao iro eco (Fanctonal ye placed at the neural aie JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE / N'150 April - May 2023 Je earth dein tension state gh the tast sampleMechanical behaviour of multifunctional composites [UI m0 Pe soo MPa Wide tine ° o00 sso Wide tine soo a - > _-— Reference 2390 saree 4000 Meander 4100 att peur on sion lat igh ot the et sae to be integrated without weakening mechanical properties - in fall compliance with the composite manufacturing process the company is positioned to respond to this demand. Its technology meets manufacturers’ needs for connecting instrumented layers, which is possible today with weldable copper tracks. ‘The industrial demand for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is high, and current solutions are either too costly, or have not yet been industrialised om a large scale. When the de- mand of the wind power industry is examined, a life span of around 30 to 35 years is observed for 120-meter blades that re ‘quire in-situ instrumentation to control the structures. For this reason, MCVE is also carrying out studies of how to integrate PZR and PZE sensors to glass fibre. The aim is to be able to manufacture conductors with PZR sensors that willbe placed at critical locations on the structures on the same substrate with, Jn particular, hybrid composites ike CFRP.GFRP. (Christian Weisse, MCVE Technologie company chairman, is cur- rently working on a fundraising campaign in order to build the industial pilot for launching Eopromflex* production. This will allow the company to provide an industrial solution for compos- ites and thereby meet the demand for functionalised composites. More information: wwemeve-tech.com MCVE's areas of focus As a result of its integrated heating function, MCVE has made commitments in the composites sector (wind, construction and automotive tis developing a method for integrating piezoelectric sensors to composites, for SHM applications and antennas. To respond to eco-friendliness requirements of an environmental nature, the company has also qualified its proprietary EOPROM® technology on flax and flax-polypropyiene commingled fabrics | and provides recyclable functionalised composites. Linen abr fonetionaied wth May 2023 / JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE %