DSC analysis of in situ polymerized poly(Butylene terephthalate) flax fiber reinforced composites produced by RTM

Abstract

The present work addresses Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analysis of neat and woven flax fiber fabric reinforced in situ polymerized polybutylene terephthalate (pCBT), produced by the isothermal RTM molding technique. A brief description of the developed RTM set-up is provided and the composite manufacturing details are presented. Thermal analysis reveals that incorporation of flax fibers leads to change in pCBT, namely leads to decrease in melting temperature, heat of fusion and heat of crystallization. The degree of crystallinity did not change significantly.