Z-Pinning is a technique which involves inserting fine pins/rods in thickness (through-the-thickness) direction of a stacked prepreg layup using an ultrasonic gun which vibrates at a frequency of 20kHz. The results have shown improved inter laminar fracture toughness and damage tolerance of aerospace composite joints.
Year of Development
2018 - 2020
Salient Technical Features
- Z-pinning converts a 2-D prepreg lay-up into a 3D laminate. - Ultrasonic unit is of 20 KHz with a power rating of 2000 Watt - Titanium alloy sonotrode - Amplitude/ Frequency/Power of the ultrasonic generator is controllable. - Z-pinning of layup up to 10 mm - Enhance Mode-I fracture toughness by 7-8 times and CAI strength by 62% - Enhance T-Joint toughness by 200%
Level/Scale of Development
TRL=6
Applications
Z-pinning technology can be used in composite structures in airframe considering the improvement it provides in damage tolerance of joints and areas where state of stress is three dimensional in nature. The following areas of airframe are targeted. a) Cocured joints in airframe structures like skin to spar, skin to rib joints, stringer run out areas in skins b) Areas prone to external impact like access panels in aircraft belly and landing gear areas.
Commercialization
The various critical parameters pertaining to this technology are optimized based on lot of studies/experiments and documented. The technical training can be provided to the business incubators and facility can be availed
Available in Market
Currently the usage of z-pinning technology is sparse. (One each application in the aerospace and automotive industry is listed in the literature). Extensive R&D has been done at Cranfield and RMIT Universities in UK and Australia respectively. Regarding
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