REVISTA DYNA NEW TECHNOLOGIES

Continuous fibre composites, noted for offering mechanical performance comparable to metals, but with exceptional design freedom and weight, have historically faced significant challenges in terms of cost and geometric constraints. However, thanks to the "addipref" process, which simplifies manufacturing and drastically reduces the associated costs, new doors are opening for the expansion of these innovative materials.
This revolutionary process involves the additive manufacturing of continuous fibre preforms, whether carbon, glass, aramid or textile, eliminating conventional manual or automated preforming steps. The resulting preform can be resin impregnated by infusion or RTM (Resin Transfer Molding) for thermoset composites or hot formed for thermoplastic composites, offering unparalleled versatility.
"Addipref uses an FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) technology adapted to print continuous reinforcement fibre filaments coated with thermoplastic polymer. This bold approach has overcome technological challenges, from filament extrusion to optimising FDM technology for printing, setting a new standard in the world of composites. Applications are wide-ranging and include isogrids, impregnable preforms, ribs, localised reinforcements, 3D preforms and more. Moreover, this innovative process not only optimises the most costly phase of structural composite moulding, but also maximises the possibilities for geometric complexity, paving the way for unprecedented competitive improvement.
Its success demonstrates the feasibility of obtaining FDM printable filaments with high continuous fibre content, redefining the possibilities in composites manufacturing. This process not only maximises topological optimisation and reduces weight, but also offers remarkable economic advantages compared to conventional methodologies.
Source: NewsbyTECNALIA