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Structure–properties relationship in single polymer composites based on polyamide 6 prepared by in-mold anionic polymerization

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Abstract

Single polymer composites (SPCs) based on polyamide 6 (PA6) were prepared by in-mold activated anionic ring-opening polymerization (AAROP) of caprolactam in the presence of PA6 textile fibers. The influence of the reinforcing fibers content, their surface treatment, as well as of the temperature of AAROP upon the morphology, crystalline structure, and mechanical properties of the resulting SPCs was followed. The presence of oriented transcrystalline layer (TCL) on the surface of the reinforcing fibers was demonstrated by means of microscopy methods. Its orientation and polymorph structure were determined by synchrotron wide-angle X-ray scattering. Studies on the mechanical behavior in tension of the SPCs showed a well-expressed growth of the stress at break (70–80 %) and deformation at break (up to 150–190 %) in composites with 15–20 wt% of reinforcements. The best mechanical properties were found in SPCs whose reinforcing fibers were solvent-pretreated prior to AAROP in order to remove the original finish. In these samples a stronger adhesion at the fiber/matrix interface was proved by scanning electron microscopy of cryofractured samples. This effect was related to a thinner TCL in which the α-to-γ polymorph transition is impeded.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of HASYLAB at DESY (Grant Number II-07-011EC) and of the Strategic Project LA 25-2011-2012 financed by Fundação para a Ciênica e Tecnologia (FCT)—Portugal. N. D. is grateful to the FCT for supporting her research by the post-doctoral award SFRH/BPD/45252/2008, co-financed by QREN-POPH program of EU.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. I3N—Institute for Polymers and Composites, University of Minho, 4800-058, Guimarães, Portugal

    Nadya Dencheva, Zlatan Denchev, António Sérgio Pouzada & Ana Sofia Sampaio

  2. 2C2T—Center for Textile Science and Technology, University of Minho, 4800-058, Guimarães, Portugal

    Ana Maria Rocha

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  1. Nadya Dencheva
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  2. Zlatan Denchev
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  3. António Sérgio Pouzada
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  4. Ana Sofia Sampaio
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  5. Ana Maria Rocha
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Correspondence to Zlatan Denchev.

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Dencheva, N., Denchev, Z., Pouzada, A.S. et al. Structure–properties relationship in single polymer composites based on polyamide 6 prepared by in-mold anionic polymerization. J Mater Sci 48, 7260–7273 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-013-7546-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-013-7546-8

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