Bio-based polyamides reinforced with cellulosic fibres - Processing and properties

Bio-based polyamides with a melting point above 200 °C were used as the polymer matrix, and compounds with 15 wt% and 30 wt% man-made cellulose fibres were prepared. A new, single-step pultrusion process was developed, and composites prepared using this method were compared to those produced in a common two-step pultrusion process. After the compounding process was completed, specimens were further processed using an injection moulding process, and, subsequently, the thermomechanical properties were evaluated. The new single-step pultrusion process creates composites with a significantly higher tensile strength and notched impact strength than composites made using the two-step process. The increases in tensile strength and tensile stiffness were investigated in correlation with increasing fibre content. When compared with glass fibre reinforced bio-based polyamides, those reinforced with man-made cellulose fibres display both a higher notched impact strength and lightweight potential. What is also remarkable, the heat distortion temperature of such materials is close to the melting point, which is above 200 °C.