ORCID

Abstract

Large composite marine structures normally use fibre-reinforcements in a thermoset resin and are often manufactured by resin infusion. These materials have limited options for disposal at end-of-life and are not easily recycled. Thermoplastics are too viscous to infuse even in the molten state. Thermoplastic matrix composites might be manufactured by in situ polymerisation (ISP) during monomer infusion under flexible tooling (MIFT). Two monomers were identified as candidates for ISP-MIFT. Fossil-based acrylic infusion monomers are commercially available, but bio-based monomers are new to the market and there is no infusion grade to date. Lactide is bio-based by default but requires processing at elevated temperatures (hence higher energy consumption with consequent environmental burdens). This paper reveals some of the constraints encountered in the development of ISP-MIFT for lactide.

Publication Date

2023-08-01

Publication Title

https://www.iccm-central.org/Conferences.html

Embargo Period

2024-03-23

Organisational Unit

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Keywords

In Situ Polymerisation (ISP), Lactide, Monomer infusion

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