Abstract
The narrow process temperature window available to consolidate self-reinforced PLA composites is one of the challenges for the application of this type of composites. In the present work, the effect of the consolidation temperature on the polymer crystallinity and the mechanical performance of self-reinforced PLA composites is studied and characterized. On the filament level, the results show that the Young’s modulus of PLA reinforcement filaments increases with exposure to consolidation temperature (12%) and the strength at break decreases (30%). With an additional annealing process, the Young’s modulus of a semi-crystalline PLA matrix may increase, while the properties of the PLA reinforcement filaments remain unaffected. On the composite level, the results show that an increase of the consolidation temperature results in lower strength and higher strain at break. Based on the experimental findings, optimal processing conditions for the selected PLA grades are recommended to produce self-reinforced PLA composites.
Highlights
Glass fibre reinforced polymer composites are used in a wide range of applications due to their properties combining high stiffness, strength and low density
The results show that the Young’s modulus of PLA reinforcement filaments increases with exposure to consolidation temperature (12%) and the strength at break decreases (30%)
The results show that an increase of the consolidation temperature results in lower strength and higher strain at break
Summary
Glass fibre reinforced polymer composites are used in a wide range of applications due to their properties combining high stiffness, strength and low density. Several polymers have been successfully used to manufacture self-reinforced composites such as polypropylene [6,7], polyamide [8] and poly (ethylene terephthalate) [9] Within this cate gory of materials, bio-based self-reinforced composites are defined as materials derived from renewable resources and examples of selfreinforced composites studied include PLA (Polylactic acid), cellulose, nanocellulose or starch [10,11,12,13]. In this category, self-reinforced PLA composites, named all-PLA composites, present the additional advantage of being biodegradable and that PLA is one of the most studied material presenting that feature [14]. Given the environmental challenges faced nowadays, composite materials derived from natural resources, biodegradable and made of one single type of material represent an interesting alternative to traditional glass fibre reinforced polymer composites
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