Production of high impact resistance polylactide-based composites by TP-RTM
Résumé
Composite materials display many advantages over traditional materials, whether in terms of lightness or mechanical and chemical resistance. In a context of sustainable development, a growing number of works relate to the production of composites with bio-based matrices including polylactide (PLA), which has become a major actor in the market which could in the long term serve as an alternative to petroleum-based polyolefins.[1]
Among the various composites production processes, Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) is a specific process which relies on the injection, into a mold containing fibers, of a monomer and a catalyst in order to carry out the in situ polymerization of the matrix. The major advantage over conventional melt processes is the possibility of reaching a high amount of fibers while improving their wetting by the matrix. While a wide selection of thermosetting matrix resins are available on the market for RTM process, there are only a few commercial resins for thermoplastic matrices (TP-RTM).[2]
Although composites production has been reported with e-caprolactone (e-CL) in TP-RTM,[2] PLLA-matrix composites via this process had never been described. Recent studies carried out at UMET laboratory made it possible to obtain the first PLLA/glass fiber composites prototypes.[3a] We present here current work aiming at strengthening the mechanical properties of the PLLA matrix by producing a novel composites family by copolymerization of L-LA with e-caprolactone (PLCL).[3b] PLCL/glass fabric prototype with 30 % e-CL displays an impact resistance 87% higher than pure PLLA analog (Figure 1). Fully compostable PLLA-flax composites were also produced via this process.[4]
[1] M. Jamshidian, E. A. Tehrany, M. Imran, M. Jacquot, S. Desobry, Compr. Rev. Food. Sci. F., 2010, 9, 552-571.
[2] B. Campos, S. Bourbigot, G. Fontaine, F. Bonnet, Polym. Compos. 2022, 43, 2485-2506
[3] (a) E. Louisy, F. Samyn, S. Bourbigot, G. Fontaine, F. Bonnet. Polymers, 2019, 11, 339-347. (b) B. Miranda Campos, G. Fontaine, S. Bourbigot, G. Stoclet, F. Bonnet. ACS Appl. Polym. Mater, 2022, 4, 6797-6802.
[4] B. Miranda Campos, J. Beauvois, G. Fontaine, S. Bourbigot, G. Stoclet, F. Bonnet. Polym. Compos. 2024 doi: 10.1002/pc.28710