abstract
Thermoplastic resin transfer molding technology has attracted much attention due to the possibility of manufacturing recyclable structural thermoplastic-based composites. Polyamide 6 obtained from anionic ring-opening polymerization (AROP) of epsilon-caprolactam (CL) has been prepared using T-RTM technology. When suitable catalyst and activator are used, the transformation occurs at a significantly faster reaction rate. Four different formulations were prepared. The influence of catalyst and activator amount on chemical, thermal and mechanical properties were analyzed. Higher monomer conversions and molecular weight were obtained for samples with lower catalyst and activator content, indicating a pronounced effect of concentrations on final samples properties. Mechanical analyses also corroborated these behavior. Optimizing PA6 formulations is necessary, to achieve reproducible materials with desirable properties.
keywords
RING-OPENING POLYMERIZATION; ANIONIC POLYAMIDE-6; VACUUM INFUSION; PART I; COMPOSITES; LACTAMS; OPTIMIZATION
subject category
Materials Science
authors
Lagarinhos, J; Santos, L; Oliveira, J
our authors
J. Martinho Oliveira
Coordinator Professor
Joana Nogueira Lagarinhos
PhD Studentacknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge to Simoldes Group for funding this research. This is a project in collaboration with Simoldes Plasticos, S.A. This work was also developed within the scope of the project CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, UIDB/50011/2020 & UIDP/50011/2020, financed by national funds through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology/MCTES. The authors would like to acknowledge Helder Morais for CNC specimen machining.