Low-Temperature Fibre Direct Compounding of Cellulose Fibres into PA6

This study reports on the development of a novel polymer processing approach that combines low-temperature (LT) processing and fibre direct compounding (FDC) to reduce the thermal stress on thermosensitive components that occurs during compounding and subsequent injection moulding (IM). Composites based on polyamide 6 (PA6) and cellulose fibres (CeF) were prepared using an LT-FDC process and in parallel with a conventional approach using a twin-screw extruder and IM. The morphological, optical, thermal, and mechanical properties of the prepared samples were investigated using optical microscopy (OM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), colorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and tensile tests. Composites prepared using LT-FDC exhibited worse fibre dispersion but lower fibre degradation. In comparison to neat PA6, the LT-FDC composites had increased tensile modulus (E-t) and storage modulus (E ') at 120 degrees C by up to 32% and 50%, respectively, while the tensile strength (sigma(m)) decreased by 20%.

Automated summary

This study introduces a novel polymer processing approach that combines low-temperature processing and fibre direct compounding to reduce thermal stress on thermosensitive components during compounding and injection moulding. The composites prepared using this new method showed improved tensile and storage modulus, despite exhibiting worse fiber dispersion and lower fiber degradation.