The Synergistic Effect of Temperature and Loading Rate on Deformation for Thermoplastic Fiber Metal Laminates

The glass fiber reinforced polypropylene/AA2024 hybrid laminates (short for Al/Gf/PP laminates) as structural materials were prepared and formed by hot pressing. The synergistic effects of temperature and loading speed on the laminate deformation under tensile and bending conditions were investigated and analyzed in this study. In tension, stress–strain curves presented bimodal types effected by tensile rates and temperatures. The state of PP resin determines the mechanical behavior of the FMLs. The tensile rate has no effect on FML deformation without heating or over the melting point of PP resin (about 170 °C). The softening point of PP resin (about 100 °C) is characteristic temperature. When the temperature exceeds the softening point but does not reach the melting point, the tensile strength and elongation will demonstrate coordinated growth at a relatively high tensile speed. The efficiency of fiber bridging is affected significantly since the resin is the medium that transfers load from the metal to the fiber. Under bending, the curves presented a waterfall decrement with temperature increment. The softening point of resin matrix is the key in a bending process. When the temperature is near the softening point, deformation is sensitive to both the temperature and the loading speed to a certain extent. If temperature is lower than softening point, deformation is mainly guided by temperature. If the temperature is beyond the softening point, loading speed is in a leading position of deformation. The bending strength gradually increases with loading rate. By using these deformation characteristics, the deformation of the thermoplastic laminates can be controlled in stamping or other plastic forming processes for thermoplastic fiber metal laminates.