An overview on fabrication of three-dimensional woven textile preforms for composites

There are various manufacturing processes for the interlacement of yarns to produce three-dimensional (3D) fabric structures as preforms for textile composites. The manufacturing route is determined by the end-use of composites and therefore the composite industry does not solely rely on one method but a selection of methods for fabric formation. This paper attempts to make a comprehensive overview on fabrication methods that can be used for making 3D textile woven preforms for composites. There are many different views on what 3D woven fabrics are, but one common understanding is that 3D fabrics must have substantial dimension in the thickness direction formed by layers of fabrics or yarns. In this paper we classify 3D woven textiles into those that can be manufactured on the conventional weaving technology and those that require specially made weaving machines/devices. This paper attempts to provide useful information for both the textile and composite engineers in developing textile composites for advanced applications. © The Author(s) 2011.