Flexible Thermoplastic

Towpreg For Textiles

Robert Davies

CEO, Fibrtec Inc.

Anaheim Convention Center | Anaheim, California, USA

Company History

• Fibrtec was formed in 2008 in Florida to

commercialize patented thermoplastic

composite materials

• In 2013 we moved to Atlanta, TX.

• Modern 50,000 SF Facility

Continuous Fiber TP Prepreg Processes • Most TP Prepreg Processes Require Costly Conversion of

Resin To Adapt To The Process

– Solution

– Powder

– Film

– Fiber or Filaments

Source: Wakeman, M.D., Månson, J-AE, Design and Manufacture of Textile Composites, Chapter 6, 2005.

Fibrtec’s Low Cost Solution

• FibrFlex process utilizes thermoplastic

resin pellets as supplied

– Directly extruded on the fiber – Carbon, Glass

Aramid tows.

– No Resin Conversion = low cost

– No Tape Slitting, further reducing cost

– Rapid consolidation during molding

10 - Fibrflex® Towpreg Cross section

12 - Fiber Not Coated

14 - Extruded Resin Sheath

16 – Partially Coated Fiber

Uniquely Flexible Tow Construction

Adaptable to Basic Textile

Processes

UD Fabrics and Tapes

Woven Fabrics

Braided Sleeves

Tow Placement

Filament winding

Hybrid Preforming with FibrFlex

7

Mix: Woven Fabrics + UD Fabrics

Combine Tailored Fiber

Placement with Fabrics

Stack Multiple Plies & Cut Net Shape

Unlimited down

stream Options

Example Parts Made From TPC

Towpreg

Side covers on sight made with PEEK/Carbon Fiber

IED Detector -Nylon/Carbon Fiber

Crew Seat Bottom for Commercial Airplane -PPS/Fiberglass

Complex Geometry Parts Nylon/Carbon Fiber