Volume 136, Issue 15 47391
Article

Rheokinetic study of acrylic reactive mixtures dedicated to fast processing of fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites

Quentin Charlier

Quentin Charlier

University of Lyon, INSA-Lyon, Ingénierie des Matériaux Polymères, UMR CNRS 5223, F-69621 Villeurbanne, France

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Jean-Charles Fontanier

Jean-Charles Fontanier

University of Lyon, INSA-Lyon, Ingénierie des Matériaux Polymères, UMR CNRS 5223, F-69621 Villeurbanne, France

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Frédéric Lortie

Corresponding Author

Frédéric Lortie

University of Lyon, INSA-Lyon, Ingénierie des Matériaux Polymères, UMR CNRS 5223, F-69621 Villeurbanne, France

Correspondence to: F. Lortie (E-mail: [email protected])Search for more papers by this author
Jean-Pierre Pascault

Jean-Pierre Pascault

University of Lyon, INSA-Lyon, Ingénierie des Matériaux Polymères, UMR CNRS 5223, F-69621 Villeurbanne, France

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Jean-François Gerard

Jean-François Gerard

University of Lyon, INSA-Lyon, Ingénierie des Matériaux Polymères, UMR CNRS 5223, F-69621 Villeurbanne, France

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First published: 18 December 2018
Citations: 12

ABSTRACT

This study focuses on the characterization of acrylic reactive mixtures designed for liquid composite molding (LCM) and yielding thermoplastic matrices for composite applications. Conversion degree, complex viscosity, and cure exothermicity are tracked during the radical polymerization. Results show that these systems suffer from Trommsdorff's effect, that is, the polymerization is highly exothermic. The rheological study also highlights a limit of injectability for LCM processes around a conversion degree of 10%. The vitrification curve, which correlates conversion degree to glass-transition temperature, has been established for methyl methacrylate/poly(methyl methacrylate) mixtures. It constitutes a useful tool to identify the thermal conditions required to reach a full monomer conversion and thus, to manage the residual monomer content. The use of such acrylic-based reactive solutions for fast LCM processing appears appropriate as fully polymerized matrices were obtained in less than 5 min at 90 °C. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47391.

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