Thermoplastic RTM: Impact Properties of Anionically Polymerised Polyamide 6 Composites for Structural Automotive Parts

James J. Murray, Tom Allen, Simon Bickerton, Ankur Bajpai, Klaus Gleich, Edward D. McCarthy and Conchúr M. Ó Brádaigh
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James J. Murray: School of Engineering, Institute for Materials and Processes, Sanderson Building, The University of Edinburgh, Robert Stevenson Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FB, Scotland, UK
Tom Allen: Centre for Advanced Composite Materials, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Auckland, Gate 3, 314-390 Khyber Pass Road, Newmarket, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
Simon Bickerton: Centre for Advanced Composite Materials, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Auckland, Gate 3, 314-390 Khyber Pass Road, Newmarket, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
Ankur Bajpai: School of Engineering, Institute for Materials and Processes, Sanderson Building, The University of Edinburgh, Robert Stevenson Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FB, Scotland, UK
Klaus Gleich: Johns Manville Europe GmbH, Werner-Schuller-Str.1, 97877 Wertheim, Germany
Edward D. McCarthy: School of Engineering, Institute for Materials and Processes, Sanderson Building, The University of Edinburgh, Robert Stevenson Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FB, Scotland, UK
Conchúr M. Ó Brádaigh: School of Engineering, Institute for Materials and Processes, Sanderson Building, The University of Edinburgh, Robert Stevenson Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FB, Scotland, UK

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 18, 1-14

Abstract: This study investigates the impact behaviour and post-impact performance of polyamide-6 glass fibre reinforced composites, manufactured by thermoplastic resin transfer moulding. Impact test samples were extracted from quasi-isotropic laminates using two different glass fibre sizings, both with a fibre volume fraction of approximately 52%. A previous study showed that one of these sizings enhanced the interfacial strength and Mode I fracture toughness; however, the effects of the sizing on out-of-plane impact is of greater significance in terms of automotive applications. A drop-weight impact tester was used to determine out-of-plane impact performance for both sizings in terms of impact load-induced and energy returned from the striker. High-speed video of the impact response was simultaneously captured. Testing was carried out at three impact energy levels: two sub-penetration and one full penetration. The impact damage area was observed, and the post-damage compression properties of samples were measured to determine the reduction in their strength and stiffness. Results showed that the use of different sizing technologies had little effect on the post-impact compressive properties and that penetration led to only a 29% drop in compression strength. Overall, the outcomes of this work demonstrate the potential of these materials in automotive applications.

Keywords: TP-RTM; T-RTM; impact; polyamide; automotive; thermoplastic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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