TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of Glass Fibre Sizing on the Interfacial Properties of Composites Produced using In-Situ Polymerised Polyamide-6 Transfer Moulding
AU - Murray, James
AU - Bajpai, Ankur
AU - Quinn, James
AU - McClements, Jake
AU - Gleich, Klaus
AU - McCarthy, Eddie
AU - Ó Brádaigh, Conchúr M.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: This work is funded by Johns Manville (CO, USA), a company that produces glass fibre products for use in various markets. Their interest in supporting this work was due to a desire to investigate possible uses of their products in composite applications. This study compares two products designed by the company which are currently available on the market and aims to show the effects of each when used in composites. While there are financial interests from the company to sell these products, this did not in any way affect the nature or integrity of this work.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022
PY - 2022/4/15
Y1 - 2022/4/15
N2 - The fibre-matrix interfacial properties of glass-fibre/polyamide-6 (GF/PA-6) composites produced by thermoplastic resin transfer moulding (TP-RTM) were investigated. Two different fibre sizings were compared, a specially-developed novel reactive fibre sizing and a standard silane glass fibre sizing. Scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and a number of mass-loss techniques were employed to study the form, distribution, quantity and degradation temperature of the fibre sizings. Activated PA-6 monomer precursor materials with viscosities of ∼10 mPa s were injected into the glass-fibre fabrics, contained between heated press platens, and polymerisation occurred in-situ within several minutes. Glass-fabric laminates with fibre volume fractions of ∼53% and low void content were produced at a pressure of ∼4 bar, with the low viscosity of the monomer negating the need for expensive high-pressure injection. Similar quality between the laminates was demonstrated by measuring density, thickness, fibre volume fraction, void content and fibre bundle distribution. Transverse mechanical properties of the composites reinforced with the novel reactive sizing were 20–28% higher than those with the standard fibre sizings, demonstrating improved fibre-matrix interfacial properties. Average mode I fracture toughness was also measured to be 10–30% higher than with the standard fibre sizing. Scanning electron microscopy and 3D depth composition were used to investigate fracture surfaces and determine the surface roughness. The novel reactive fibre sizing resulted in improved fibre-matrix adhesion and improved fracture toughness.
AB - The fibre-matrix interfacial properties of glass-fibre/polyamide-6 (GF/PA-6) composites produced by thermoplastic resin transfer moulding (TP-RTM) were investigated. Two different fibre sizings were compared, a specially-developed novel reactive fibre sizing and a standard silane glass fibre sizing. Scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and a number of mass-loss techniques were employed to study the form, distribution, quantity and degradation temperature of the fibre sizings. Activated PA-6 monomer precursor materials with viscosities of ∼10 mPa s were injected into the glass-fibre fabrics, contained between heated press platens, and polymerisation occurred in-situ within several minutes. Glass-fabric laminates with fibre volume fractions of ∼53% and low void content were produced at a pressure of ∼4 bar, with the low viscosity of the monomer negating the need for expensive high-pressure injection. Similar quality between the laminates was demonstrated by measuring density, thickness, fibre volume fraction, void content and fibre bundle distribution. Transverse mechanical properties of the composites reinforced with the novel reactive sizing were 20–28% higher than those with the standard fibre sizings, demonstrating improved fibre-matrix interfacial properties. Average mode I fracture toughness was also measured to be 10–30% higher than with the standard fibre sizing. Scanning electron microscopy and 3D depth composition were used to investigate fracture surfaces and determine the surface roughness. The novel reactive fibre sizing resulted in improved fibre-matrix adhesion and improved fracture toughness.
KW - Fibre/matrix bond
KW - Glass fibres
KW - Mechanical properties
KW - Thermoplastic resin transfer moulding (TP- RTM)
KW - interface/interphase
U2 - 10.1016/j.compositesb.2022.109743
DO - 10.1016/j.compositesb.2022.109743
M3 - Article
SN - 1359-8368
VL - 235
JO - Composites Part B: Engineering
JF - Composites Part B: Engineering
M1 - 109743
ER -