Study on influencing factors of bending springback for metal fiber laminates

In this study, carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP)/Al laminates are made through autoclave cocuring. Three-point bending, stamping bending, and micromorphology analyses are conducted to study the failure of FMLs in the bending process and the influences of fiber direction, metal thickness ratio, and temperature on springback. Results show that the fiber direction exerts a great influence on the failure mode and springback of the laminates. Al alloy and CFRP are bent, and the influence of temperature on the springback of three different sheet is compared. The formability of CFRP is sensitive to temperature, and the springback rate varies by approximately 30% between room temperature and 150 °C. By contrast, the springback rate of Al alloy and CFRP/Al laminates changes by only 5% in such a temperature range. Orthogonal 45° CFRP/Al laminates exhibit good formability at room temperature, and the springback rate is approximately 3.2%. The change in springback rate is inevident below 150 °C, and the delamination between fiber and metal layers occurs near 200 °C. Surface modification of aluminum plates using coupling agents can improve the resistance of CFRP/Al to failure during bending.