The Effect of the Parameters of T-RTM on the Properties of Polyamide 6 Prepared by in Situ Polymerization.

Orsolya Viktória Semperger,András Suplicz

doi:10.3390/ma13010004

Abstract

With the rapid development of the automotive industry, there is also a significant need to improve the raw materials used. Therefore, the demand is increasing for polymer composites with a focus on mass reduction and recyclability. Thermoplastic polymers are preferred because of their recyclability. As the automotive industry requires mass production, they require a thermoplastic raw material that can impregnate the reinforcement in a short cycle time. The most suitable monomer for this purpose is caprolactam. It can be most efficiently processed with T-RTM (thermoplastic resin transfer molding) technology, during which polyamide 6 is produced from the low-viscosity monomer by anionic ring-opening (in situ) polymerization in a tempered mold with a sufficiently short cycle time. Manufacturing parameters, such as polymerization time and mold temperature, highly influence the morphological and mechanical properties of the product. In this paper, the properties of polyamide 6 produced by T-RTM are analyzed as a function of the production parameters. We determine the crystallinity and the residual monomer content of the samples and their effect on mechanical properties.

Highlights

IntroductionThe automotive industry is developing very rapidly
Nowadays, the automotive industry is developing very rapidly
The most suitable monomer for this purpose is caprolactam. It can be most efficiently processed with T-RTM technology, during which polyamide 6 is produced from the low-viscosity monomer by anionic ring-opening polymerization in a tempered mold with a sufficiently short cycle time

Summary

Introduction

The automotive industry is developing very rapidly. Almost 100 million cars roll off the production lines every year worldwide. In order to keep up with this rapid development, we need to develop new materials. Interest in polymer composites has increased recently. There are number of studies where the goal is to develop materials and their composites which have such low density and good mechanical properties (such as high strength or stiffness), that they can even be used as load-bearing parts. The automotive industry uses a large proportion of these composites [1,2,3]

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