TY - JOUR
T1 - The effect of processing conditions and polymer crystallinity on the mechanical properties of unidirectional self-reinforced PLA composites
AU - Beauson, Justine
AU - Schillani, Giacomo
AU - Van der Schueren, Lien
AU - Goutianos, Stergios
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - The narrow process temperature window available to consolidate self-reinforced PLA composites is one of the challenges for the application of this type of composites. In the present work, the effect of the consolidation temperature on the polymer crystallinity and the mechanical performance of self-reinforced PLA composites is studied and characterized. On the filament level, the results show that the Young’s modulus of PLA reinforcement filaments increases with exposure to consolidation temperature (12%) and the strength at break decreases (30%). With an additional annealing process, the Young’s modulus of a semi-crystalline PLA matrix may increase, while the properties of the PLA reinforcement filaments remain unaffected. On the composite level, the results show that an increase of the consolidation temperature results in lower strength and higher strain at break. Based on the experimental findings, optimal processing conditions for the selected PLA grades are recommended to produce self-reinforced PLA composites.
AB - The narrow process temperature window available to consolidate self-reinforced PLA composites is one of the challenges for the application of this type of composites. In the present work, the effect of the consolidation temperature on the polymer crystallinity and the mechanical performance of self-reinforced PLA composites is studied and characterized. On the filament level, the results show that the Young’s modulus of PLA reinforcement filaments increases with exposure to consolidation temperature (12%) and the strength at break decreases (30%). With an additional annealing process, the Young’s modulus of a semi-crystalline PLA matrix may increase, while the properties of the PLA reinforcement filaments remain unaffected. On the composite level, the results show that an increase of the consolidation temperature results in lower strength and higher strain at break. Based on the experimental findings, optimal processing conditions for the selected PLA grades are recommended to produce self-reinforced PLA composites.
KW - Self-reinforced composite
KW - Biocomposite
KW - Poly(lactic acid)
U2 - 10.1016/j.compositesa.2021.106668
DO - 10.1016/j.compositesa.2021.106668
M3 - Journal article
SN - 1359-835X
VL - 152
JO - Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing
JF - Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing
M1 - 106668
ER -