Print Email Facebook Twitter Self-catalysed frontal polymerisation enables fast and low-energy processing of fibre reinforced polymer composites Title Self-catalysed frontal polymerisation enables fast and low-energy processing of fibre reinforced polymer composites Author Staal, Jeroen (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) Caglar, Baris (TU Delft Group Çaglar) Michaud, Véronique (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) Date 2024 Abstract Frontal polymerisation has the potential to bring unprecedented reductions in energy demand and process time to produce fibre reinforced polymer composites. Production of epoxy-based fibre reinforced polymer parts with high fibre volume content, commonly encountered in industry, is however hindered by the heat sink created by the fibres and the mould, overcoming the heat output of the chemical reaction, thus preventing front propagation. We propose a novel self-catalysed frontal polymerisation manufacturing method based on the integration of thin resin channels in thermal contact with the composite stack as a strategy for low-energy production of high fibre volume fraction polymer composites without the need for a continuous energy input. Frontal polymerisation inside the resin channel proceeds faster and preheats the fabric stack, thus catalysing the process. Parts with up to 60% fibre content are successfully produced independently of the sample thickness. Fillers added within the resin channels provide means to tailor the frontal polymerisation process kinetics. The parts have a significantly higher glass transition temperature than those produced in a conventional oven, and comparable mechanical properties while energy consumption is reduced by over 99.5%. Subject Fibre reinforced polymersFrontal polymerisationOut-of-autoclave processingPolymer-Matrix Composites (PMCs) To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:642473ae-9845-4913-9742-0a09ed5ef066 DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2024.110584 ISSN 0266-3538 Source Composites Science and Technology, 251 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2024 Jeroen Staal, Baris Caglar, Véronique Michaud Files PDF 1-s2.0-S0266353824001544-main.pdf 4.96 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:642473ae-9845-4913-9742-0a09ed5ef066/datastream/OBJ/view