polymers Review Monomer Selection for In Situ Polymerization Infusion Manufacture of Natural-Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic-Matrix Marine Composites Yang Qin *, John Summerscales , Jasper Graham-Jones , Maozhou Meng and Richard Pemberton Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Engineering, Computing & Mathematics, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK; [email protected] (J.S.); [email protected] (J.G.-J.); [email protected] (M.M.); [email protected] (R.P.) * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 10 November 2020; Accepted: 30 November 2020; Published: 7 December 2020 Abstract: Awareness of environmental issues has led to increasing interest from composite researchers in using “greener” materials to replace synthetic fiber reinforcements and petrochemical polymer matrices. Natural fiber bio-based thermoplastic composites could be an appropriate choice with advantages including reducing environmental impacts, using renewable resources and being recyclable. The choice of polymer matrix will significantly affect the cost, manufacturing process, mechanical properties and durability of the composite system. The criteria for appropriate monomers are based on the processing temperature and viscosity, polymer mechanical properties, recyclability, etc. This review considers the selection of thermoplastic monomers suitable for in situ polymerization during resin, now monomer, infusion under flexible tooling (RIFT, now MIFT), with a primary focus on marine composite applications. Given the systems currently available, methyl methacrylate (MMA) may be the most suitable monomer, especially for marine composites. MMA has low process temperatures, a long open window for infusion, and low moisture absorption. However, end-of-life recovery may be limited to matrix depolymerization. Bio-based MMA is likely to become commercially available in a few years. Polylactide (PLA) is an alternative infusible monomer, but the relatively high processing temperature may require expensive consumable materials and could compromise natural fiber properties. Keywords: thermoplastic; natural fiber; vacuum infusion; monomer 1. Introduction Fiber-reinforced composite materials have been widely used for marine applications (marine renewable energy devices, offshore oil/gas infrastructure, boat hulls, etc.) due to their superior resistance to biological and chemical attack in the harsh marine environment [1,2]. There is now an increasing trend to replace conventional synthetic fibers and petrochemical resins with renewable and recyclable materials for composite production [3]. Special attention to environmental issues should be taken for composites in marine applications due to the risk of microplastic contamination of the marine ecosystem [4,5]. Natural fibers (e.g., bamboo, coir, flax, hemp, jute, sisal, etc.) have attracted much interest as alternatives to conventional glass/carbon fibers in recent years [6]. There is limited literature on natural fiber-reinforced plastics (NFRP) composites in the marine environment, but the reviews by Moudood et al. [7], Al-Maharma and Al-Huniti [8] and Célino et al. [9] do consider the effects of water on NFRP. The advantages of natural fiber reinforcements include being renewable, Polymers 2020, 12, 2928; doi:10.3390/polym12122928 www.mdpi.com/journal/polymers
Monomer Selection for In Situ Polymerization Infusion Manufacture of Natural-Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic-Matrix Marine Composites
Jun 17, 2023
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