Insert Integration in Thermoplastic-Based Foam Core Sandwich Components

Abstract

A method of integrating a recycled thermoplastic full-core insert into a compression molded thermoplastic sandwich component is studied and found to produce structurally very capable inserts. Pre-consolidated glass/polyamide 12 (PA12) faces. polymethacrylimide rigid foam core and recycled glass/PA12 inserts are used in the present study. The influence of insert temperature and insertion force on the transverse tensile strength of the insert/sandwich component is investigated and characterized using a pull-out test. Higher strength specimens failed by core shear at some distance from the insert. This behavior results from the non-linear geometrical and material behavior of the specimens observed during pull-out testing. Fracture resistance around the insert is likely increased o ing to core densification which also contributes to this behavior.