ORCID
- Summerscales, John: 0000-0002-3557-0404
- Graham-Jones, Jasper: 0000-0003-3081-7049
- Meng, Maozhou: 0000-0001-6138-9433
Abstract
A significant majority of large fibre composite structures in the marine environment currently use a thermoset resin matrix. These materials have excellent durability in the sea, but are difficult to dispose of at end-of-life. After a rigorous selection process [1], methyl methacrylate and lactide monomers have been identified as potential thermoplastic matrix systems which can be manufactured using in situ polymerisation (ISP) during composite manufacture by liquid composite moulding (LCM) processes. LCM includes resin transfer moulding (RTM) for components up to about 3 m square, then Infusion under Flexible Tooling (RIFT for resins, or MIFT for monomers). The presentation will address manufacturing issues (acrylic is a “drop in” for polyester resin, but lactide requires elevated temperature processes), and end of life (acrylic is lower in the recycling hierarchy.
Publication Date
2021-05-18
Publication Title
5th International Conference on Natural Fibers - Materials of the Future
Organisational Unit
School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics
First Page
153
Recommended Citation
Qin, Y., Summerscales, J., Graham-Jones, J., Meng, M., Pemberton, R., & Fangueiro, R. (2021) 'Large thermoplastic matrix marine composites by liquid composite moulding processes', 5th International Conference on Natural Fibers - Materials of the Future, , pp. 153. Retrieved from https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/secam-research/1336
