Investigation of the effect of temperature and layup on the press forming of polyvinyl chloride-based composite laminates and fiber metal laminates

Semi-crystalline thermoplastic-based composite laminates and fiber metal laminates have a narrow forming temperature window, which limits formability of these products. The intention of this study was investigation of non-melting amorphous polyvinyl chloride as a proper matrix to increase the formability and forming temperature window of these products. For this, [45/−45] and [0/90] layups of polyvinyl chloride-based composite laminates and fiber metal laminates were produced using the film-stacking procedure and later press formed into channel sections at six temperatures in the range of 80 to 200 °C. The effects of the layups and forming temperatures on the forming loads and spring back of the formed profiles were measured, and their effects on the fiber buckling, wrinkling, and delamination of the profiles were evaluated using optical microscope images. The effects of layups and forming temperatures on the deformation mechanisms were also analyzed using the grid strain analysis method. Of the fiber metal laminates, 160 °C was found as the minimum forming temperature, and for the composite laminates, 120 and 160 °C were found as the minimum proper forming temperatures of [45/−45] and [0/90] layups, respectively. Finally, the forming temperature windows and formability of polyvinyl chloride matrix composite laminates and fiber metal laminates were found higher than semi-crystalline matrices.