Integrated approach for modelling cure and crystallization kinetics of different polymers in 3D pultrusion simulation

Pultrusion is one of the many manufacturing processes used for fabricating polymer composites. Both, thermosetting resins and thermoplastics are used as polymer matrices in pultrusion. Behaviour of these two types of polymers in a pultrusion die is different from each other and requires a different numerical strategy to simulate their reaction kinetics. In this paper the three-dimensional, finite element/nodal control volume (FE/NCV) approach for simulation of thermosetting and thermoplastic composites pultrusion is discussed. The numerical schemes developed for modelling the curing of a thermosetting matrix and the crystallization of a thermoplastic binder are presented. Implementation of these schemes in the FE/NCV procedure is discussed. Finally, simulation case studies on the pultrusion of Glass/EPON 9420 and APC-2 CF/PEEK with multi-heater, steel die assemblies are presented.