PERFORM

PERFORM (Enhancing the UK dry fibre processing and preforming capabilities for composites manufacture) revolved around the acquisition of capital equipment to enhance the UK capabilities in dry fibre processing technologies. The equipment was carefully selected after discussions with industrial partners and experts in the field, enabling UK PLC to access state-of-the-art technologies to develop new manufacturing methods.

On this project, the team at the University of Sheffield AMRC developed the specifications, procured and installed the equipment. This created a new dry fibre processing sandbox environment to be used by UK industrial partners.

The key technologies introduced by the project had an emphasis on automated dry fibre processing such as braiding, 3D weaving, tailor fibre placement (TFP), robotic stitching with ultrasonic cutting, high temperature and high tension filament winding and ultrasonic capable ply cutting. The project also introduced enabling technologies meant to support the use of the dry fibre processing equipment. Of those enabling technologies some highlights are through- thickness permeability testing, a composite inspection system and a carbon fibre capable CNC mill turn.

The introduction of the dry fibre processing capabilities through PERFORM has opened a new branch of research for the AMRC and UK PLC. The technologies enable waste reduction with serious impact on lightweighting of components.

The filament winding technologies, enhanced with the high tension capabilities, have contributed to push forward the research in composite pressure vessels. Its high temperature capability is being used to advance a new stream of research in thermoplastic materials.