Detailed mapping of the localized crystalline structure in rapid stamp-formed automotive thermoplastic composite laminates

Thermoplastic composites (TPCs) such as glass fibre reinforced polyamide laminates offer a unique material solution for low-carbon mobility applications, enabling high-volume manufacture of inherently sustainable (recyclable) light-weight components. High-performance TPC parts are produced via a rapid stamp-forming process, yielding a complex, transient (non-isothermal) crystallisation environment leading to a distinctly anisotropic crystalline structure. Such variations in structure inevitably lead to local variations in material properties; mapping this inhomogeneity is critical to predicting performance. Particularly, mapping these variations would reveal the local processing history of the material and is critical for the development of accurate process simulation tools. Here, we propose the use of microfocus WAXS to create a detailed map of the crystalline morphology of an industrially-processed polyamide (PA66) laminate material with 60% w.f. glass fibre (PA66-GF60).