Structure Analysis and Its Correlation with Mechanical Properties of Microcellular Polyamide Composites Reinforced with Glass Fibers

Thin-walled and thick-walled microcellular moldings were obtained by MuCell technology with nitrogen as a supercritical fluid. 2 mm thick polyamide 6 (PA6) with 30% wt. glass fiber (GF) samples were cut from automotive industrial elements, while 4 mm, 6 mm, and 8.4 mm thick moldings of PA6.6 with 30% wt. GF were molded into a dumbbell shape. The internal structure was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray computed microtomography (micro-CT) and compared by numerical simulations for microcellular moldings using Moldex3D 2022 software. Young's modulus, and tensile and impact strength were investigated. Weak mechanical properties of 2 mm thick samples and excellent results for thick-walled moldings were explained. SEM pictures, micro-CT, and simulation graphs revealed the tendency to decrease the cell size diameter together with increasing sample thickness from 2 mm up to 8.4 mm.