Repair of Damaged Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites with Cold Spray

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The promising structural properties of fiber-reinforced polymer composites make them widely popular in the energy, automotive, defense, and aerospace industries. One of the most challenging limitations associated with the use of composites in the above applications is the maintenance and repair protocols. In this study, a novel cold spray approach is introduced as an efficient alternative for the structural repair of fiber composites. Damages in the form of circular tapered holes are created in glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite substrates using a conventional drilling process. The in-lab created damages are repaired by cold spray with thermoplastic (nylon 6) and thermoset (polyester epoxy resin, PER) materials. The fundamental adhesion mechanisms are investigated through microstructural observations, which point to adiabatic shear instability due to the occurrence of severe plastic deformation as a governing factor. Microstructural examinations also suggest that no significant fiber damage or surface degradation occurs after the repair by cold spray. Mechanical tests performed on neat, damaged, and repaired composites reveal the partial recovery of structural performance and load-bearing capacity after cold spray repair. Results obtained in this work highlight cold spray as a promising alternative technique for onsite structural repair of composite structures with minimal pre/post-processing requirements.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationInternational Thermal Spray Conference and Exposition
Subtitle of host publicationNext-Generation Thermal Spraying for Future Surfaces, ITSC 2023 - Conference Proceedings
EditorsFardad Azarmi, X. Chen, J. Cizek, H. Salimi Jazi, H. Koivuluoto, Y. Lau, R. Ortiz-Fernandez, Ozan C. Ozdemir, F. Toma, J. Veilleux, H. Che
PublisherASM International
Pages740-745
Number of pages6
ISBN (Electronic)9781713879572
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023
Externally publishedYes
Event2023 International Thermal Spray Conference and Exposition, ITSC 2023 - Quebec City, Canada
Duration: May 22 2023May 25 2023

Publication series

NameInternational Thermal Spray Conference and Exposition: Next-Generation Thermal Spraying for Future Surfaces, ITSC 2023 - Conference Proceedings

Conference

Conference2023 International Thermal Spray Conference and Exposition, ITSC 2023
Country/TerritoryCanada
CityQuebec City
Period5/22/235/25/23

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Metals and Alloys
  • Bioengineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Biomedical Engineering

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