Micromechanical finite element parametric study of polyamide 6 based single polymer composites reinforced by woven textile structures

Abstract

This study presents a finite element-based micromechanical analysis of woven single polymer composites (WSPC), prepared by compression molding from polyamide 6 (PA6) woven fabrics powder-coated with PA6 microparticles. Initially, the PA6 microparticles (MP) were synthesized by solution/precipitation activated anionic ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactam. After the powder coating, the MP fraction upon each textile ply was transformed into the continuous PA6 matrix by hot pressing at a temperature lower than the melting of the PA6 textile reinforcements. Plain and satin PA6 woven fabrics were selected as reinforcements that were stretched and annealed prior to molding so as to enhance their mechanical performance. The tensile and Izod impact properties of WSPC were characterized in relation to the reinforcement architecture, fiber content and ply orientation. Finite element analysis was used for a parametric study of woven reinforcements and to correlate the deformation and stress distribution of the structures with the tensile failure of the composites. Moreover, to assess the interfacial matrix-reinforcements bonding state, a study of the surfaces fracture, obtained by SEM topography, using image processing was performed.