Considerable interest has been generated in the last years in the use of thermoplastics polymers as matrices in advanced composites manufacturing. In this research, a new Elium® acrylic matrix ...developed by Arkema has been studied to evaluate the influence of different benzoyl peroxide initiator (Luperox®78) contents on the polymerization reactions for Elium®150. For that, thermal and rheological analyses were performed providing a better understanding of these reactions. The results show that the initiator concentration and temperature affect the resin's properties not only in the initiation step, but also in the resin's complete polymerization reaction. Besides that, it was observed that the initiator concentration can also affect the polymer chain lengths, which may lead to variations in the dynamic mechanical properties and thermal stability of the polymer.
The use of thermoplastics in advanced composites has increased in recent years due to their recyclability and rapid processing. It is thus important to establish an appropriate thermal cycle ...processing method in order to achieve parts with high mechanical performance. Elium® thermoplastic resins from Arkema constitute an innovation in the composites processing field for their ability to adapt to thermoset infusion processing methods already in use. Some studies on these new resins can already be found in literature. However, these studies address their mechanical behavior, and none so far focuses on polymerization reactions. Therefore, the present study uses thermal, rheological and dielectric measurements to characterize these acrylic resin polymerization reactions. The results show that both the initiator and temperature have an influence on these reactions, and that a multiple step isothermal cycle allows for the full polymerization of the resin. Also, an optimized thermal cycle for Elium®150 Arkema processing was suggested using dielectric analysis and validated by differential scanning calorimetry.
•This article characterizes the polymerization of a new thermoplastic resin for infusion as a composite matrix.•The influence of temperature and initiator in these polymerization reactions were analyzed.•Kinetic study results were used to establish a thermal cycle for processing.•The focus of the established cycle was to assure the completion of polymerization reaction.•The established thermal cycle was optimized with basis on dielectric analysis results.
The final properties of advanced composite parts manufactured from prepregs are strongly dependent on the combination of raw materials' properties and manufacturing parameters. Therefore, monitoring ...techniques that can characterize the prepreg cure advancement and the effects of this advancement on the curing process are of great interest to composite industries. In the present work, dielectric analyses were performed using a previously developed simple and low-cost device, as a successful alternative to track prepreg out-time and the specificities of aged prepregs curing process. The findings point out that, despite the temperature and humidity influence in the measurements, models for estimating prepreg out-times can be developed based on dielectric analyses results. Also, the dielectric properties can signalize the necessity of cure parameters adjustments, which might lead to the extension of prepreg out-time limits without significant detriment to the performance of the final part.
The commingled technology is a promising technique for the manufacture of composites reinforced with natural fibers. This study presents the development, processing and basic characterization of a ...long fiber Jute/Polypropylene (Jute/PP) commingled composite. The Jute/PP fabric was produced in a handloom and the composite was consolidated by compression molding. The PP matrix was chemically and thermally characterized to certify its chemical composition and define its melting and crystallization temperatures. The degradation behavior of jute fibers was also studied by Friedman’s kinetic isoconversional model using thermogravimetric analyses (TGA). The mechanical properties of jute reinforcement and Jute/PP composite were characterized by tensile strength tests and by fractographic study of the fracture surfaces. Its tensile strength (44.62±6.02 MPa) and elasticity modulus (7.10±2.34 GPa) are approximate to the ones obtained by other processing techniques, suggesting that the developed commingled process can work as a low cost and practical alternative methodology for manufacturing of more sustainable composites in industries.
Abstract Among the engineering thermoplastics, poly(phenylene sulfide) (PPS) stands out for its excellent properties and mainly for processing at lower temperatures. The requirements requested by ...industries can be made by improving mechanical strength, weight reduction, and durable components by reinforcing the PPS matrix with fiberglass (FG) and carbon fiber (CF). This review intends to present the most current research related to the physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of PPS and the PPS/FG and PPS/CF composites most currently used by the aerospace, automotive, and energy industries. In addition to presenting the feasibility of mechanical and thermal recycling processes for PPS-based waste to reinsert a high market value thermoplastic into the industrial production cycle, thus contributing to the minimization of waste destined for landfills and incinerated or even improperly disposed of in the environment.
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