Master's Thesis: Process parameters for AFP-Manufactured Thermoplastic Composite Materials

Background Saab Dynamics AB is growing and to meet the challenges to efficiently increase productivity, new manufacturing methods and materials are being investigated. One increasingly important manufacturing technology for advanced composite structures is additive manufacturing by Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) which is becoming an increasingly important manufacturing technology for advanced composite structures. Historically, thermoset composites have dominated the area of structural composites, but as thermoplastic composites starting to gain acceptance in structural applications, they have to be evaluated together with the AFP method. As AFP process parameters are dependent both from the AFP machine as from the material used, no recommendations are supplied by the material supplier. The combination of temperature, pressure, speed and so on need to be tuned for each material tested to find optimal process parameters.

Your Role: The purpose of this Master's thesis is to evaluate the influence of the different process parameter on the laminate quality, manufactured by AFP with different thermoplastic materials.

The work aims to identify:

• Relation between speed, temperature and pressure on the laminate quality.
• Characterization of the laminate quality.
• Correlation between laminate quality on mechanical properties.
• Environmental test of chosen material.

Your Profile: The work is suitable for 2 students with an interest in composites and thermoplastics. You are at the end of a Master’s degree or equivalent in mechanical engineering or materials engineering and are about to start a 30 credits degree project. Completed courses at the advanced level in the field of materials engineering are merit for the thesis.

This position requires that you pass a security vetting based on the current regulations around/of security protection. For positions requiring security clearance additional obligations on citizenship may apply. CONTACT PERSON Pär-Göran Sandvall,

Manager: [email protected],

076-896 78 49

Federica De Magistris,

contact person / supervisor: [email protected], 073-446 23 46

What you become part of: Explore a wealth of possibilities. Take on challenges, create smart inventions, and grow beyond. This is a place for curious minds, brave pioneers, and everyone in between. Together, we achieve the extraordinary, each bringing our unique perspectives. Your part matters.

Saab is a leading defense and security company with an enduring purpose, to help nations keep their people and society safe. Empowered by its 28,000 talented people, Saab constantly pushes the boundaries of technology to create a safer and more sustainable world.

Saab designs, manufactures and maintains advanced systems in aeronautics, weapons, command and control, sensors and underwater systems. Saab is headquartered in Sweden. It has major operations all over the world and is part of the domestic defense capability of several nations. Read more about us here.