Medical University of South Carolina

Clemson University

Tighitco. Inc.

Kok & Van Engelen Composite Structures B.v.

Michael Van Tooren

Igor Luzinov

Victor Giurgiutiu

Wout De Backer

Bin Lin

Harm Van Engelen

Paul Ziehl

Arturs Peteris Bergs

Ramy Harik

Mohammad Faisal Haider

Lingyu Yu

Joshua Tarbutton

Zafer Gurdal

Valerie Kay

A composite fibrous susceptor for use in induction welding is described, along with methods of its construction and use. The composite fibrous susceptor can include a magnetically susceptible continuous fiber in conjunction with a thermoplastic polymer. The composite fibrous susceptor can be deposited according to an additive manufacturing process on a surface to be bonded according to an induction welding process.

Printable susceptor for use in induction welding

A system for printing a three-dimensional object is provided. The system can include at least one print head configured to receive a continuous fiber and at least partially encase the continuous fiber with a formation material to create a composite material. The at least one print bed can be configured to move in at least six different degrees of freedom. The system can also include at least one print bed comprising a printing surface onto which the composite material may be selectively applied to form a work piece. The at least one print head can be positioned relative to the at least one print bed and configured to advance print media thereon.

Integrated robotic 3D printing system for printing of fiber reinforced parts

An in-situ fiber-optic temperature field measurement is disclosed that can allow process monitoring and diagnosis for thermoplastic composite welding and other applications. A distributed fiber-optic sensor can be permanently embedded in a thermoplastic welded structure when it is welded and left there to perform lifelong monitoring and inspection. The fiber optic sensor can include a dissolvable coating, or a coating matched to the composite material to be welded. Other applications include in-situ fiber-optic temperature field measurement on thermoset composite curing (autoclave), for thermoplastic and thermoset composites during compression molding, and for fiber-optic field measurements on freeze/thaw of large items of public health interest, such as stored or transported foodstuffs.

In-situ fiber-optic temperature field measurement during thermoplastic composite welding and other applications

A composite fiber for use in additive manufacturing such as fused filament fabrication is described along with methods of its construction and use. The composite fiber includes a single continuous fiber (e.g., a continuous carbon roving) and a polymer (e.g., a high glass transition polymer) in intimate contact. The composite fiber is formed through immersion of the continuous fiber in a series of two or more solutions that together include monomer(s), catalysts, or other materials for generating the polymer as the continuous fiber moves through the solutions.

In-line polymerization for customizable composite fiber manufacture in additive manufacturing

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to systems and methods for producing high quality 3-dimensional prints using various materials. Aspects of the present disclosure may provide particular advantages when used with high temperature thermoplastics (such as polyetherimide (PEI) polymers), such as when using continuous fibers impregnated with a high temperature thermoplastic, or when co-depositing a continuous fiber with a formation material containing a high temperature thermoplastic.

Systems and methods for printing 3-dimensional objects from thermoplastics

A fusion bonding process for polymeric components and welding heads for use in the process are described. Methods and devices can be utilized to weld polymer-based structural components to one another by use of an enhanced friction stir welding technology that combines heating, pressure, and polymer agitation to form a highly secure joint between polymeric structural components and a short fiber reinforced thermoplastic connection element.

Welding head and method for use with polymeric components

Disclosed are thermoset/thermoplastic composites that include a thermoset component directly or indirectly bonded to a thermoplastic component via a crosslinked binding layer between the two. The crosslinked binding layer is bonded to the thermoplastic component via epoxy linkages and is either directly or indirectly bonded to the thermoset component via epoxy linkages. The composite can be a laminate and can provide a route for addition of a thermoplastic implant to a thermoset structure.

Thermoplastic/thermoset grafted composites

Disclosed are composite structure health monitoring (SHM) systems that incorporate aspects of both a passive SHM system and an active SHM system. Systems provide a route for continuous monitoring to recognize potentially damaging events as well as to determine the location and intensity of damage in those instances in which the event does cause damage to the structure. Systems can provide improved monitoring with a low space and weight requirement, for instance when utilized for SHM of aircraft.

Growing community of inventors

Columbia, SC, United States of America

Michael Van Tooren