This award will support the travel by Prof. R. Byron Pipes of the Center for Composite Materials to conduct collaborative research with Dr. Debes Bhattacharyya of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Auckland. The principal goal of the research is to establish a base for fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites that can be integrated into engineering practice. Thermoplastic polymers can undergo a reversible phase change from solid to liquid thereby enabling the development of shaping and joining industrial methods analogous to those for conventional metallic materials. It is also possible to incorporate various types of fiber reinforcement to suit the end use of the formed product. The potential processing advantages of thermoplastics have led to the development of thermoforming processes and to the adoption of sheet forming techniques typical of those used with metallic materials. This research will investigate ways fiber-reinforced thermoplastic sheets can be converted into three-dimensional models using existing metal-forming equipment with minimal modification. The research areas of the principal investigators are complementary and the cooperative work should produce substantial results. Dr. Bhattacharyya is an expert in the sheet forming of conventional metallic materials. Prof. Pipes is a recognized authority in composites processing. The travel of Dr. Bhattacharyya to the Center for Composite Materials in Delaware is funded through the New Zealand Ministry of Research, Science and Technology (MORST).
