Monomer Selection for In Situ Polymerization Infusion Manufacture of Natural-Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic-Matrix Marine Composites

Awareness of environmental issues has led to increasing interest from composite researchers in using “greener” materials to replace synthetic fiber reinforcements and petrochemical polymer matrices. Natural fiber bio-based thermoplastic composites could be an appropriate choice with advantages including reducing environmental impacts, using renewable resources and being recyclable. The choice of polymer matrix will significantly affect the cost, manufacturing process, mechanical properties and durability of the composite system. The criteria for appropriate monomers are based on the processing temperature and viscosity, polymer mechanical properties, recyclability, etc. This review considers the selection of thermoplastic monomers suitable for in situ polymerization during resin, now monomer, infusion under flexible tooling (RIFT, now MIFT), with a primary focus on marine composite applications. Given the systems currently available, methyl methacrylate (MMA) may be the most suitable monomer, especially for marine composites. MMA has low process temperatures, a long open window for infusion, and low moisture absorption. However, end-of-life recovery may be limited to matrix depolymerization. Bio-based MMA is likely to become commercially available in a few years. Polylactide (PLA) is an alternative infusible monomer, but the relatively high processing temperature may require expensive consumable materials and could compromise natural fiber properties.

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Mechanical Properties of Thermoplastic Composites via In Situ Polymerization from Cyclic Oligomers

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.750-752.7 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 750-752 ◽

pp. 7-10

Author(s):

Kou An Hao ◽

Zhen Qing Wang ◽

Li Min Zhou

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

In Situ Polymerization ◽

High Viscosity ◽

Thermoplastic Composites ◽

Thermoplastic Matrix ◽

Polymerization Catalyst ◽

Short Beam ◽

Beam Shear ◽

Cyclic Oligomers

Fiber impregnation has been the main obstacle for thermoplastic matrix with high viscosity. This problem could be surmounted by adapting low viscous polymeric precursors Woven basalt fabric reinforced poly (butylenes terephthalate) composites were produced via in-situ polymerization at T=210°C. Before polymerization, catalyst was introduced to the reinforcement surface with different concentration. DSC is used to determine the polymerization and crystallization. SEM is used to detect whether the catalyst existed on surface. Both flexural and short-beam shear test are employed to study the corresponding mechanical properties.

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Mechanical Performance and Moisture Absorption of Unidirectional Bamboo Fiber Polyester Composite

Materials Science Forum ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/msf.911.88 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 911 ◽

pp. 88-94 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Omid Nabinejad ◽

Sujan Debnath ◽

Jack Kai Beh ◽

Mohammad Yeakub Ali

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Moisture Absorption ◽

Mechanical Performance ◽

Natural Fiber ◽

Alkali Treatment ◽

Bamboo Fiber ◽

Synthetic Fiber ◽

Moisture Uptake ◽

Polyester Composite ◽

Bamboo Fibers

Bamboo fibers as a natural fiber offer numerous advantages such as high specific strength over synthetic fiber when used as reinforcing fiber for polymer composites. Yet the hydrophilic nature of bamboo fibers with high moisture absorption results in incompatibility in between bamboo fibers and unsaturated polyester resin. An experimental study was carried out to investigate the effects of alkali treatment of bamboo fiber on the mechanical properties and water sorption properties of polyester composite. The result revealed that, the bamboo fiber polyester composite with 5% Alkali treated bamboo fiber possesses the highest mechanical properties. Besides, Alkali treated fibers composite showed a significant reduction in moisture uptake compared to untreated fibers, where composite with 7% Alkali treated showed the lowest moisture uptake.

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Thermal Stability of Natural Fibers via Thermoset Coating for Application in Engineering Thermoplastics

Key Engineering Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/kem.809.433 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 809 ◽

pp. 433-438 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Natalie Vellguth ◽

Tanja Rudeck ◽

Madina Shamsuyeva ◽

Franz Renz ◽

Hans Josef Endres

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Thermal Stability ◽

Epoxy Resin ◽

Natural Fiber ◽

Natural Fibers ◽

Thermoplastic Composites ◽

Processing Temperature ◽

Scanning Calorimetry ◽

Flax Fibers ◽

Thermal Stability Of

An effective integration of natural fibers into engineering thermoplastics requires sufficient thermal stability of natural fibers during processing, since melting temperature of engineering thermoplastics lies above 200 °C. The aim of the work was to protect natural fibers from the heat of the molten thermoplastic via coating with a modified epoxy resin, thus enabling manufacture of natural fiber-reinforced engineering thermoplastic composites with minimized thermal degradation of the fibers. Processing temperature comprised the range of engineering thermoplastic polyamide 6 (PA6), which was 225 °C. Flax fabrics were spray coated with partially bio-based epoxy resin and incorporated via hot press technique into a PA6 matrix. The composite samples including spray coated flax fibers as well as the reference flax fibers without coating were characterized with regard to their mechanical properties, namely bending and tensile tests, thermal properties with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) as well as thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and optical via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and computer tomography (CT). The results show that this approach enables manufacture of composites with reproducible mechanical properties, i.e. bending and tensile properties as well as enhanced thermal stabilities.

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Instinctive Behavior of Replacing Large Percentage of Carbon with Banana Fiber

International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering - 2 ◽

10.35940/ijrte.b2705.078219 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 2312-2316

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Natural Fiber ◽

Synthetic Fiber ◽

Work Piece ◽

Hybrid Polymer ◽

Banana Fiber ◽

Leaf Springs ◽

Instinctive Behavior ◽

The Cost ◽

User Friendly

This paper is mainly focused on reducing the certain amount of artificial fiber with green fiber or natural fiber. The replacement of particular amount of synthetic fiber, reduce the cost and made the product economical. By doing so the composite become user friendly. In this experiment, using handlay-process, a hybrid polymer matrix is fabricated by replacing some percentage of carbon with banana fiber. The prepared specimen is subjected to mechanical testing. The fabricated work piece resulted in better mechanical properties such as improved tensile strength, hardness, flexural strength and impact strength. This hybrid composite has applications in automobile parts like break lining, leaf springs, etc.

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Manufacture of Carbon Nanotube-Grafted Carbon Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites

Key Engineering Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/kem.651-653.405 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 651-653 ◽

pp. 405-408

Author(s):

Min Chang Sung ◽

Geun Sung Lee ◽

Seung Yong Lee ◽

Seong Ik Jeon ◽

Cheol Hee Ahn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Carbon Nanotube ◽

Carbon Fiber ◽

In Situ Polymerization ◽

Interfacial Properties ◽

Polymer Nanoparticles ◽

Thermoplastic Composites ◽

Fiber Reinforced ◽

Carbon Fiber Reinforced

Carbon fiber reinforced composites (CFRCs) have been used in various high-end industries due to their outstanding specific mechanical properties. Recently, carbon nanotube (CNT)-grafted carbon fibers (CFs) made via direct growth has emerged as an advanced and hierarchical reinforcement that can improve the reinforcing effect of CFs in CFRCs. On the other hand, CF reinforced thermoplastic composites (CFRTPs) have attracted much attention because of their quick and mass production capability, e.g., which is important for automotive part manufacturing. Here, we report on the manufacture of CFRTPs using CNT-grafted CFs and their mechanical properties. First, the interfacial shear strength of CNT-grafted CFs with thermoplastic resins was characterized to demonstrate improved interfacial properties due to the CNTs grafted on CFs. Then, the composites were manufactured in two ways; polymer nanoparticles and in-situ polymerization. Polymer nanoparticles were used to improve the interfacial properties due to their small size and good mechanical locking with CF surfaces. In-situ polymerization was also used to manufacture CFRTPs, i.e., monomers with catalyst were transferred into CNT-grafted CF fabric preform using vacuum assisted resin transfer molding and then polymerized into solid matrix. This in-situ polymerization enabled the manufacture of CNT-grafted CF thermoplastic composites by overcoming the difficulties of filling the surface of CNT-grafted CFs with thermoplastic polymers. Finally, the mechanical, thermal, electrical, and damping properties of CNT-grafted CF thermoplastic composites were characterized and compared with their thermoset composites.

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Preparation and Properties of Nano-Hydroxyapatite Modified Nylon Composites

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.87-88.228 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 87-88 ◽

pp. 228-232

Author(s):

Li Yun Zheng ◽

Zhi Min Liu ◽

Ya Jun Zhao

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Molecular Weight ◽

Tensile Strength ◽

Body Fluid ◽

Moisture Absorption ◽

In Situ Polymerization ◽

Average Molecular Weight ◽

Ultrasonic Dispersion ◽

Infrared Spectrometer

To enhance the mechanical property and the bioactivity of composites, nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HA) modified monomer casting nylon-6 (n-HA/N) composites were prepared by in situ polymerization. During the synthesis of n-HA/N composite, the n-HA and caprolactam were mixed, melt and placed in the field of ultrasonic radiation. The differences between composite with ultrasonic and without ultrasonic were investigated. The tensile strength and the viscosity average molecular weight of the nylon matrix were measured. The results show that the molecular weight of the nylon matrix decreased firstly and it had the lowest value when the content of nano-hydroxyapatite was 1.6 wt.%. After that the molecular weight increased and then it began to decrease when it reached the highest value. But the tensile strength of the n-HA/N composite were improved. The ultrasonic dispersion made the n-HA more evenly dispersed in the nylon and increased the mechanical properties of the n-HA/N composites significantly. The bioactivity and moisture absorption of n-HA/N composites in simulated body fluid (SBF) were examined and compared to pure nylon. What's more, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer was used to characterize the structure of the materials formed on the surface of the composite. The results showed that moisture absorption of the n-HA/N composites was lower than that of the pure nylon. After composites impregnated 16 days in SBF, a layer of carbon hydroxyapatite (CHA) with weak crystalline was formed on the surface of sample. This phenomenon showed that the n-HA/N composites have good bioactivity.

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Structural characterization, thermal and mechanical properties of polyurethane/CoAl layered double hydroxide nanocomposites prepared via in situ polymerization

Composites Science and Technology ◽

10.1016/j.compscitech.2010.12.001 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 71 (6) ◽

pp. 791-796 ◽

Cited By ~ 58

Author(s):

Shuzhong Guo ◽

Chao Zhang ◽

Hongdan Peng ◽

Weizhi Wang ◽

Tianxi Liu

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Layered Double Hydroxide ◽

Structural Characterization ◽

In Situ Polymerization ◽

Thermal And Mechanical Properties ◽

Double Hydroxide

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Synthesis and Characterizations of Poly(Butylene Succinate) Copolyester

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.1015.381 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 1015 ◽

pp. 381-384

Author(s):

Li Liu ◽

Li Hai Cai ◽

Dan Liu ◽

Jun Xu ◽

Bao Hua Guo

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Polymer Matrix ◽

Crystallization Temperature ◽

In Situ Polymerization ◽

Nucleating Agent ◽

Single Fiber ◽

Butylene Succinate ◽

Crystallization Behaviors ◽

Polymerization Method

The poly (butylene succinate) (PBS) and 3 wt% attapulgite (ATP) reinforced PBS/ATP nanocomposites with 1,6-hexanediol were fabricated using an in situ polymerization method. The crystallization behaviors indicated that ATP had effectively acted as nucleating agent, resulting in the enhancement on the crystallization temperature. The SEM results showed a superior interfacial linkage between ATP and PBS. Also, ATP could disperse as a single fiber and embed in the polymer matrix, which resulted in the improved mechanical properties.

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