Properties of polyamide-6 composites using a low-cost thermoplastic resin transfer moulding system

James Murray, Klaus Gleich, Eddie McCarthy, Conchur O Brádaigh

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract / Description of output

Glass-fibre/Polyamide-6 (GF/PA-6) composite laminates were manufactured using a bespoke, lowcost thermoplastic resin transfer molding (T-RTM) system. Instead of injecting melted fully prepolymerized PA-6, monomer precursor materials with viscosities ~10mPa.s were injected into a glassfibre fabric contained between heated platens of a press and polymerisation occurred in-situ within several minutes. Due to the extremely low viscosity of the monomer, composites with fibre volume fractions ~53% with excellent wet-out were produced at a pressure of approximately 4 bar, negating the need for expensive high pressure injection. In this study, the interfacial adhesion of the composite was further improved by using specialized fibre sizings containing one of the chemical reactants such that polymer growth was initiated from the fibre surface. The improved interfacial adhesion resulted in a significant increase in both strength and modulus of the composites in flexure. Fracture surfaces of the
failed flexural samples were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) which showed clear signs of improved fibre-matrix interfacial bonding. The void distribution in the laminates was studied using computerised tomography (CT) scans while the fibre volume fraction was determined using burnoff.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 2019 International Conference on Composite Materials
PublisherRMIT University
Number of pages10
Publication statusPublished - 16 Aug 2019
Event22nd International Conference on Composite Materials, ICCM 2019 - Melbourne, Australia
Duration: 11 Aug 201916 Aug 2019

Conference

Conference22nd International Conference on Composite Materials, ICCM 2019
Country/TerritoryAustralia
CityMelbourne
Period11/08/1916/08/19

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • In-situ
  • Polyamide
  • Reactive
  • Thermoplastic
  • TP-RTM

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Properties of polyamide-6 composites using a low-cost thermoplastic resin transfer moulding system'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this