Simulation of melt kinetics of in-situ molding of thermoplastic CF/PEEK composites

To reveal the interaction mechanism between the composites and the laser during the laser in-situ forming process of carbon fiber composites, the temperature change history and phase transition process on the surface of CF/PEEK composites under the action of flat-top beams with different moving directions were simulated by using COMSOL Multiphysics finite element simulation software. The results show that, due to the anisotropy of CF/PEEK composites, the transverse spread of the temperature field is always larger than the longitudinal spread, and when the moving angle is less than 45°, the surface temperature and the surface heat-affected zone of CF/PEEK composites increase with the increasing of the moving angle. The surface temperature and the area of heat affected zone are maximum when the angle of movement is 45°. As the angle of movement increases from 45° to 90°, the area and temperature of the heat-affected zone on the surface of the composite decreases with the increase in the angle of movement. The area of the melting zone is consistent with the distribution of the temperature field on the composite surface. The transverse broadening of the melting zone is always larger than the longitudinal broadening. The area of the melting zone is largest when the laser spot moves at an angle of 45°, and the area of the melting zone is smallest when the spot moves at an angle of 90°.