Inducing Damage by Laser Shock Plasma: Application for Dismantling Laminated Composites for Reuse
Topic(s) : Special Sessions
Co-authors :
Ines SMA (FRANCE), Emmanuel RICHAUD , Pekka LAURIKAINEN , Essi SARLIN (FINLAND), Juan-Pablo MARQUEZ-COSTA (FRANCE), Christopher PLATZER , Yann ROUCHAUSSE , Marine SCIUS-BERTRAND , Laurent BERTHEAbstract :
Composite materials, composed of two or more components, are widely used in a variety of applications such as the aeronautic industry Composite materials, play an important role in today's world due to their favorable strength-to-density ratio [1]. In the coming years, The European composite market is expected to grow by 7.5% each year [2], Also, in the next ten years, about 6600 airplanes will be aged and be at their End of Life (EoL) [3]. This will lead to an increase in composite production and waste coming from production or end-of-life material. Environmental challenges will arise as a consequence.
Different recycling, reuse, and dismantling techniques, such as mechanical dismantling, mechanical thermal, and chemical recycling, are commonly employed today. However, these traditional methods face challenges in meeting quality standards, being slow, and generating environmentally harmful dust [4].
In response to these challenges, this paper presents a novel disassembly process utilizing laser shock technology. This method proves to be efficient without causing damage to materials, thereby facilitating the reuse of components [5].
Indeed the principle involves the generation of plasma by focusing a high-power laser, leading to the propagation of a shock wave within the target. The intersection of the two release waves can occur inside the material thickness and lead to local high tensile stresses. If the induced tensile stresses are high enough, delamination can be selectively created inside the material. To decelerate plasma expansion, resulting in heightened ablation pressure and an extended duration of the shock wave, confinement is commonly applied. Additionally, an aluminum adhesive serves as a sacrificial layer due to well-documented interactions between laser and aluminum in the literature [6].
The optimization of the process of composite dismantling utilizing laser shock technology is explored in this study. The experimental phase involves a comprehensive examination of proprietary materials after dismantling at different conditions, employing a series of tests and analyses to evaluate their properties and characteristics. The primary goal is to ensure the preservation of the maximum proprieties of disassembled material.
The subsequent step involves simulating the end-of-life waste and the ageing effects experienced by materials during their life cycle. This investigation provides a thorough understanding of how thermal ageing impacts the structural integrity and properties of the composites. To counter the effects of oxidation, the study incorporates the removal of oxidized layers through a shock laser followed by disassembly and analysis of undamaged materials.
This researcher is part of the "Recycling Technologies for the Circular Reuse and Remanufacturing of Fiber-Reinforced Composite Materials (RECREATE)" project, which has received funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation program.
Different recycling, reuse, and dismantling techniques, such as mechanical dismantling, mechanical thermal, and chemical recycling, are commonly employed today. However, these traditional methods face challenges in meeting quality standards, being slow, and generating environmentally harmful dust [4].
In response to these challenges, this paper presents a novel disassembly process utilizing laser shock technology. This method proves to be efficient without causing damage to materials, thereby facilitating the reuse of components [5].
Indeed the principle involves the generation of plasma by focusing a high-power laser, leading to the propagation of a shock wave within the target. The intersection of the two release waves can occur inside the material thickness and lead to local high tensile stresses. If the induced tensile stresses are high enough, delamination can be selectively created inside the material. To decelerate plasma expansion, resulting in heightened ablation pressure and an extended duration of the shock wave, confinement is commonly applied. Additionally, an aluminum adhesive serves as a sacrificial layer due to well-documented interactions between laser and aluminum in the literature [6].
The optimization of the process of composite dismantling utilizing laser shock technology is explored in this study. The experimental phase involves a comprehensive examination of proprietary materials after dismantling at different conditions, employing a series of tests and analyses to evaluate their properties and characteristics. The primary goal is to ensure the preservation of the maximum proprieties of disassembled material.
The subsequent step involves simulating the end-of-life waste and the ageing effects experienced by materials during their life cycle. This investigation provides a thorough understanding of how thermal ageing impacts the structural integrity and properties of the composites. To counter the effects of oxidation, the study incorporates the removal of oxidized layers through a shock laser followed by disassembly and analysis of undamaged materials.
This researcher is part of the "Recycling Technologies for the Circular Reuse and Remanufacturing of Fiber-Reinforced Composite Materials (RECREATE)" project, which has received funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation program.