Development of Laser Processing Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Plastic

Abstract

Due to its exceptional advantages, such as high specific strength, high specific modulus, and good fatigue resistance, carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) is frequently utilized in aerospace, aviation, automotive, rail transportation, and other areas. Composite components typically need to be joined and integrated. In the equipment manufacturing industry, the most used methods for processing composite components are cutting, drilling, and surface treatment. The quality of CFRP is significantly impacted by traditional mechanical processing, causing flaws like delamination, burrs, and tears. Laser processing technology has emerged as a crucial method for processing CFRP for its high quality, non-contact, simple control, and automation features. The most recent research on the laser processing of CFRP is presented in this paper, supporting scientists and engineers who work in the field in using this unconventional manufacturing technique. This paper gives a general overview of the key features of laser processing technology and the numerous machining techniques available. The concepts and benefits of laser processing technology are discussed in terms of the material properties, mode of operation, and laser characteristics, as well as the methods to achieve high efficiency, low damage, and high precision. This paper reviews the research development of laser processing of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics, and a summary of the factors affecting the quality of CFRP laser processing. Therefore, the research content of this article can be used as a theoretical basis for reducing thermal damage and improving the processing quality of laser-processed composite materials, while, on this basis, we analyze the development trend of CFRP laser processing technology.

Welding Methods of Polymer Composites

“…At 10.6 μm (CO2 laser), radiation is strongly absorbed by plastic surfaces, allowing high-speed joints to be made in thin films. [24,25]. Transmission laser welding is used to join polymer materials by transmitting a laser beam through one of the materials being joined.…”

Controllable Fabrication of Hydrophilic Surface Micro/Nanostructures of CFRP by Femtosecond Laser

“…Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) is a kind of highly engineered material that offers high specific modulus and high specific strength . CFRP has superior mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties, and is a kind of ideal lightweight material. , CFRP is widely used in the main, functional, protective, and auxiliary components of various types of space vehicles in the aerospace industry. , It may be the route one must take to the development trend of high bearing capacity, high stability, long life, energy saving, and emission reduction in automobiles, railway transportation, national defense, and other industrial fields. , In addition, CFRP has been used in medical implants − and composite structural supercapacitors. − In the above industrial, medical, or supercapacitor applications, CFRP needs not only to be cut and drilled − but also to be surface-treated. − This may be due to the intrinsic surface hydrophobicity of CFRP, which leads to low bonding strength when used in combination with other materials or produces large friction resistance in close contact with human tissue. Hence, it is urgent and challenging to develop a simple, effective, controllable, and high-precision surface treatment strategy for CFRP.…”

“…Currently, the surface treatment of carbon fiber composites includes surface chemical modification, removal of the surface weak boundary layer, improved wetting of the low-energy surface, and increased surface roughness, which can enlarge the bondable surface area or improve the mechanical interlocking. − , Surface chemical modification can be achieved by grafting multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) onto a carbon fiber surface using silane coupling agent as carrier . Removal of the surface weak boundary layer can be achieved through UV or picosecond laser cleaning. , Improving the wetting of low-energy surface and increasing the surface roughness of carbon fiber composites can be achieved through mechanical methods (such as manual hand sanding, grit blasting, and peel-ply plus grit blasting) , and energetic techniques, such as plasma treatment ,− and laser processing. ,− Among them, the mechanical method had the advantage of low cost, but its flexibility, adjustability, efficiency, and precision were relatively low. Plasma treatment has the advantage of relatively high efficiency and precision, but it needs a special atmosphere environment and inorganic or organic masks; the treatment effect is time-sensitive; the treatment process is relatively complex, and not flexible enough; and the equipment is generally expensive.…”

“… 11 − 13 In the above industrial, medical, or supercapacitor applications, CFRP needs not only to be cut and drilled 14 − 16 but also to be surface-treated. 17 − 24 This may be due to the intrinsic surface hydrophobicity of CFRP, which leads to low bonding strength when used in combination with other materials or produces large friction resistance in close contact with human tissue. Hence, it is urgent and challenging to develop a simple, effective, controllable, and high-precision surface treatment strategy for CFRP.…”

“… 22 , 26 Improving the wetting of low-energy surface and increasing the surface roughness of carbon fiber composites can be achieved through mechanical methods (such as manual hand sanding, grit blasting, and peel-ply plus grit blasting) 21 , 27 and energetic techniques, such as plasma treatment 21 , 27 − 31 and laser processing. 24 , 32 − 35 Among them, the mechanical method had the advantage of low cost, but its flexibility, adjustability, efficiency, and precision were relatively low. Plasma treatment has the advantage of relatively high efficiency and precision, but it needs a special atmosphere environment and inorganic or organic masks; the treatment effect is time-sensitive; the treatment process is relatively complex, and not flexible enough; and the equipment is generally expensive.…”