Abstract
Composites using dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) as a matrix have gained significant popularity owing to their excellent impact and chemical corrosion resistance. In the present study, experiments addressing the impact behavior of glass-fiber-reinforced DCPD were conducted to quantitatively evaluate its impact properties. The glass-fiber-reinforced polydicyclopentadiene composite utilized in impact tests was manufactured using structural reaction injection molding (S-RIM) because of its fast curing characteristics and low viscosity. The impact properties of the glass-fiber-reinforced DCPD (GF/DCPD) were quantitatively evaluated by varying its fiber content and decelerator solution. The impact properties of neat DCPD and GF/DCPD composites were examined with different amounts of decelerator solution under various temperatures from room temperature to cryogenic temperature to observe the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature (DBTT). With an increase in the fiber weight fraction of the GF/DCPD composite, the effect of the DBTT significantly decreased. However, the decreasing rate retarded as the weight fraction of the GF increased. The decreased DBTT with the addition of GF in the GF/DCPD can be attributed to the differences in the thermal expansion ratio and the interfacial force between neat DCPD and the fiber. A fractograph analysis demonstrates that the effect of the brittle (smooth) surface resulted in a lower impact absorbed energy when the temperature decreased, along with the increased amount of the decelerator.
Highlights
Liquid composite molding (LCM) processes have been significantly used over the past few decades for the composite manufacturing required for complex structures
ductile-to-brittle transition temperature (DBTT) with the addition of GF in the glass-fiber-reinforced DCPD (GF/DCPD) can be attributed to the differences in the thermal expansion ratio and the interfacial force between neat DCPD and the fiber
The energy absorbed from the fracture of the specimen was we found that the curing reaction of DCPD was hindered by the decelerator
Summary
Liquid composite molding (LCM) processes have been significantly used over the past few decades for the composite manufacturing required for complex structures. Composite materials are used for various applications, such as sporting goods and automotive products, as well as in the military and aerospace fields, owing to their ease in processing, low weight, and cost-effectiveness [1,2]. Epoxy resins are most well known as a thermosetting resin used in the LCM process. Owing to their lack of thermal stability, flammability, and long curing time, a significant amount of effort has been undertaken to determine adoptable resins for the LCM process. Because industries are determined to reduce manufacturing cost and time, composites using dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) as a matrix have gained significant popularity owing to its excellent impact In the LCM processes, traditional manufacturing techniques are used for manufacturing conventional fiber-reinforced polymer composites and thermoplastics, including resin transfer molding (RTM), vacuum infusion, compression molding, direct extrusion, compounding, and injection molding [3].
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