Abstract
This work reports the preparation of carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites via the in situ anionic ring opening polymerization of ε-caprolactam. Vacuum assisted resin transfer molding was used to fabricate polyamide-6/carbon fiber composites at different molding temperatures. As a result, the higher polymerization of ε-caprolactam was observed with the condition at 140 °C for satisfactory impregnation. Regarding molding temperature, the physical properties of polyamide-6/carbon fiber were observed that the bending and impact strengths at 140 °C were higher than those to at other molding temperatures. The polymerization kinetics of polyamide-6 was analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry by experimentally acquiring kinetic parameters according to model fitting approaches. Polymerization and crystallization, which occur simultaneously throughout the whole process, were separated using Gaussian and Maxwell–Boltzmann distributions to study polymerization kinetics. The result of the developed model was in good agreement with the experimental data for the presented first order autocatalytic reaction model.
Highlights
Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites have been widely used in industrial applications because of their high specific strength [1,2,3]
PA6 and carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) composites were manufactured at various molding temperatures via vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM)
It can be seen that the content of the water absorption (Wa ) for both the pure PA6 and the CFRTP composites shows its lowest value at 140 ◦ C, which showed the same tendency as the content of unreacted monomer
Summary
Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites have been widely used in industrial applications because of their high specific strength [1,2,3]. Carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) composites are considered to be a better alternative for the automotive industry because of their potential for high processability and recyclability. Polymers 2020, 12, 1133 requiring extensive resin flow, such as liquid composite molding processes (LCM). The problem with high resin viscosity may be solved if an in situ polymerization technique is employed. In this technique, monomers with catalysts and activators are polymerized during the resin injection process. Processing temperatures of the representative monomers such as polyamide-12 (PA-12), polyethyleneteraphthalate (PET), polybutyleneteraphthalate (PBT), and polycarbonate (PC) are too high (above 200 ◦ C) for
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
