Thin-ply thermoplastic composites: From weak to robust transverse performance through microstructural and morphological tuning

Thin-shell carbon fiber composites have great potential for structures that require large recoverable deformations, high stiffness and low weight, as in deployable space structures, biomedical devices robotics. Despite being astonishingly flexible direction, such thin shells are highly sensitive to off-axis loading. This relates the manufacturing complexity sensitivity imperfections, revealing need in-depth understanding enhancement of their transverse response. paper provides crucial insights into influencing factors thin-shell composites’ strength using a controllable technique create novel thermoplastic thin-ply (35 μm) fiber-PEEK laminas. The effects type, microstructure polymer morphology well interactions, addressed towards drastic increase performance. A combination tuning isothermal crystallization can provide with more than 150% improved performance compared state-of-the-art. conducted analysis reveals all related processing conditions highlights effect accurate control.