Textile fiber-reinforced anionic polyamide-6 composites. Part I: The vacuum infusion process

In order to manufacture thicker, larger and more integrated thermoplastic composite parts than currently can be achieved by melt processing, a vacuum infusion process is currently being developed at the Delft University of Technology using a reactive thermoplastic polymer called anionic polyamide-6 (APA-6). In previous studies it was demonstrated that the anionic polyamide-6 (APA-6) resin that is used has excellent mechanical properties. The present study assesses infused thermoplastic composites and focuses on fiber-matrix interactions. Part I of this study focuses on the thermal effects, causes for deactivation of the initiator and the restriction caused by the low in-plane permeability of the fiber textiles on various transport phenomena. It will be shown that addition of pre-heated fibers not only shortens the infusion window, but also influences the matrix properties by reducing the exothermic heat production. In addition, the low in-plane permeability of the fiber textiles influences the infusion time and causes the entrapment of voids. Finally, reactions between the matrix and the fiber surface can lead to deactivation of the initiator and bond formation with the activator. Interfacial bonding, however, is discussed in more detail in Part II of this study, whereas the effect of adding a nucleating agent is discussed in Part III.