Resin Transfer molding of High-Fluidity Polyamide-6 with modified Glass-Fabric preforms

In Resin Transfer Molding (RTM), resin precursors of thermoset or, more recently, thermoplastic polymers are generally employed, raising issues related to the chemical reaction taking place during and after part processing. this study, already polymerized polyamide-6 with low melt-viscosity (~30 Pa·s at 280 °C), is injected pressure (<30 bar) in a custom-made mold, so as impregnate glass fabric preforms via in-plane impregnation. Composite plates were produced using interply spacers acting flow-enhancers. A three-step impregnation strategy, involving fast injection, successive saturation step through transverse flow, followed by further micro-saturation caused collapse spacers, ensured industrially relevant kinetics. The influence spacer, time, temperature on process kinetics quality evaluated three-point bending tests well microstructural analyses. Optimum processing parameters identified scaled up for given geometry.