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Mechanical performance of various nylon 6 composites formed by in‐situ polymerization of caprolactam
Author(s) -
Goettler Lloyd A.,
Neff Willard J.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
polymer composites
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.577
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1548-0569
pISSN - 0272-8397
DOI - 10.1002/pc.750070516
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , caprolactam , nylon 6 , epoxy , composite number , glass fiber , toughness , polyamide , polymerization , nylon 66 , polymer , polymer chemistry
This paper describes the fabrication and mechanical characterization of composites made by incorporating various types of glass as bead or fiber into an activated caprolactam melt, which is then caused to anionically polymerize to a nylon 6 resin. Three types of composites are discussed and compared under separate headings: glass bead filled, sheet reinforced with a random fiberglass mat, and sheet reinforced with a unidirectional fiberglass mat that is studied under transverse loading to emphasize the role of the nylon 6 matrix resin. High molecular weight, better wet‐out and adhesion to the reinforcement, and cold drawing of the polycaprolactam resin lead to homogeneous cavitation that increases composite toughness in comparison to epoxy or other nylon matrices of equivalent stiffness.