Abstract
This study reports the first example of the production of polylactide composites prepared by Thermoplastic Resin Transfer Molding (T-RTM) via in situ bulk polymerization of l-lactide (l-LA) after injection in a closed mold containing glass fabrics. Tin octoate Sn(Oct)2 was used as the catalyst and first evaluated at the lab-scale in the experimental conditions required in the tank and in the mold of the RTM device. The reactions were then upscaled in the RTM in the absence of reinforcement to ensure the feasibility of the process (transfer and polymerization). Finally, poly-l-lactide (PLLA)-based composites with glass fabrics as the reinforcement were obtained. The resulting PLLA matrices exhibited conversions up to 99% along with high molar masses of up to 78,000 g·mol−1 when the polymerization was carried out under dynamic vacuum (vacuum-assisted RTM, VARTM). Moreover, a good impregnation of the glass fabrics by the matrix was observed by optical microscopy.
Highlights
Composite materials display many advantages over traditional materials, both in terms of lightness and mechanical or chemical resistance [1]
Once the mixture is fully injected in the mold and the impregnation of the glass fabrics is complete, the polymerization must be as fast and efficient as possible in order to prevent the degradation of the PLLA matrix in the mold and in order to be compatible with industrial rates
We have reported the first example of the synthesis of glass fabric/PLLA
Summary
Composite materials display many advantages over traditional materials, both in terms of lightness and mechanical or chemical resistance [1]. Is an innovative process based on the injection, in a mold containing a reinforcement, of a monomer and a catalyst in order to carry out the polymerization of the matrix in situ [8,9]. 3. Results and Discussion academic work on bio-based thermoplastic composites manufactured by RTM process, prototypes with poly(ε-caprolactone) as the matrix were reported [11,12], the ε-caprolactone monomer being liquid at. Concerning lactide monomer, no example of PLA composite melts and is mixed with the catalyst, and a mold containing the glass fabrics where the produced by RTM process has been reported to date. The polymerization must not be fully completed in presents the possibility of producing glass fabric/poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) composites by Thermoplastic this part of the apparatus, so the temperature should be kept as low as possible. 38% was observed after 40 min of reaction (run 1), which is suitable for the injection step during the
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