Weft-Knitted Preforms Adapted for Crash and 3D Applications

Multilayer-weft-knitted reinforcing structures arouse interest in the composite industry for their excellent drapability, impact resistance, and near-net-shape manufacturability. The research into those structures is one main focus at the Institute of Textile Machinery and High Performance Material Technology at Technische Universitat Dresden starting from machine development up to the whole production chain, taking into account the knitting ability of the used high performance glass/ polypropylene hybrid-yarns. Those fabrics combine the advantages of non-crimp fabrics and conventional weft-knitted fabrics. Due to the straight inlay yarns in horizontal (weft) and vertical (warp) direction these structures ideally suit as reinforcing structures for composite application with improved mechanical properties.