A review on tufting technology for 3D preforms: Manufacturing, process parameters and performance implications

Tufting is a promising technology for reinforcing composite materials, offering notable advantages in both performance and cost-effectiveness. It effectively improves the delamination resistance and impact tolerance of multi-layered composite structures, making it highly applicable across a range of industries, including transportation, construction, energy, and defence. In recent years, significant advancements have been made in the development of tufted multi-layered composites. Nevertheless, there remain gaps in the systematic understanding of the tufting process. This review provides an overview of the current stage of tufting technology, including its definition, key tufting parameters, and the potential damage to tufted composites. Additionally, the paper summarises current research on the forming and simulation of tufted preforms. Future research efforts should focus on optimising the tufting process, standardising techniques, and expanding its industrial applications.