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Advanced Thermoplastic Composites
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Advanced Thermoplastic Composites

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "D1: Advanced Energy Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 February 2022) | Viewed by 10600

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Dipa Roy

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Mechanical Engineering, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
Interests: materials design; processing and characterization; bio-composites; biopolymers and bio-nanocomposites; recycled carbon fiber-based composites; liquid molding of thermoplastic composites by in situ polymerization technique (carbon, glass, basalt and natural fibers); manufacturing of advanced thermoplastic composites (CF/PEEK) by automated tape placement (ATP); manufacturing and characterizing thermoplastic composite–metal hybrid laminates
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are inviting submissions to a new Energies Special Issue on “Advanced Thermoplastic Composites”.

Thermoplastic composites are lightweight, have high specific strength and stiffness and higher vibration damping and impact damage tolerance, are easily mouldable into complex shapes, recyclable, weldable, durable in harsh environments and environmentally benign. There is a growing demand for advanced thermoplastic composites in industrial sectors such as aerospace, automotive, defence and renewable energy.

Thermoplastic composites have been used for smaller parts in the aerospace sector for some time, but their use in larger aircraft structures is likely to play a bigger role in near future. They are also slowly penetrating in the wind energy sector due to the advent of new legislations, which are directing alternative options to landfill such as recycling.

To meet the growing demands in these high-performance sectors, new thermoplastic composite materials and processes are being invented in integration with automation and digital technologies.

The issue will include but is not limited to:

  • Advanced thermoplastic composites;
  • Manufacturing technologies, automation and robotics;
  • Structure–property correlations;
  • Design, numerical modelling and simulation;
  • Joining technologies, overmoulding, hybridisation;
  • Nondestructive testing;
  • Recycling technologies;
  • Thermoplastic composites in extreme environmental conditions.
Dr. Dipa Roy
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Advanced thermoplastic composites
  • Advanced manufacturing techniques
  • Modelling and simulation
  • Joining of composites
  • Recycling

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 3282 KiB  
Article
Thermoplastic RTM: Impact Properties of Anionically Polymerised Polyamide 6 Composites for Structural Automotive Parts
by James J. Murray, Tom Allen, Simon Bickerton, Ankur Bajpai, Klaus Gleich, Edward D. McCarthy and Conchúr M. Ó Brádaigh
Energies 2021, 14(18), 5790; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14185790 - 14 Sep 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2063
Abstract
This study investigates the impact behaviour and post-impact performance of polyamide-6 glass fibre reinforced composites, manufactured by thermoplastic resin transfer moulding. Impact test samples were extracted from quasi-isotropic laminates using two different glass fibre sizings, both with a fibre volume fraction of approximately [...] Read more.
This study investigates the impact behaviour and post-impact performance of polyamide-6 glass fibre reinforced composites, manufactured by thermoplastic resin transfer moulding. Impact test samples were extracted from quasi-isotropic laminates using two different glass fibre sizings, both with a fibre volume fraction of approximately 52%. A previous study showed that one of these sizings enhanced the interfacial strength and Mode I fracture toughness; however, the effects of the sizing on out-of-plane impact is of greater significance in terms of automotive applications. A drop-weight impact tester was used to determine out-of-plane impact performance for both sizings in terms of impact load-induced and energy returned from the striker. High-speed video of the impact response was simultaneously captured. Testing was carried out at three impact energy levels: two sub-penetration and one full penetration. The impact damage area was observed, and the post-damage compression properties of samples were measured to determine the reduction in their strength and stiffness. Results showed that the use of different sizing technologies had little effect on the post-impact compressive properties and that penetration led to only a 29% drop in compression strength. Overall, the outcomes of this work demonstrate the potential of these materials in automotive applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Thermoplastic Composites)
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15 pages, 2567 KiB  
Article
Gamma-Ray Modified Polymer/Clay Composites: Synthesis, Characterization, and Formulation Optimization Using Multivariate Calculus and Graph Theory
by Ahmed A. Bakhsh
Energies 2021, 14(9), 2724; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092724 - 10 May 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1753
Abstract
To enhance the oxidation strength and crosslinking yield of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), its composites were prepared by mixing 1%, 2%, and 3% (by wt.) of magnesium silicate hydrous (sepiolite) during this study. These composites were irradiated with 25 kGy and 50 [...] Read more.
To enhance the oxidation strength and crosslinking yield of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), its composites were prepared by mixing 1%, 2%, and 3% (by wt.) of magnesium silicate hydrous (sepiolite) during this study. These composites were irradiated with 25 kGy and 50 kGy of irradiation doses in the open air. Subsequent to irradiation, the composites were characterized for updates in structure, oxidation strength, and degree of crosslinking while estimating the values of oxidation index (OI), crosslink density (Gx), and percent crystallinity (Xc), respectively. The reaction of modified sepiolite (SP) on irradiating UHMWPE/SP composites was evident from the origination of peaks at Si-O, O-Si-O, Si-O-Si, and Mg-OH and stretching vibration at 974 cm−1, 1014 cm−1, and 1080 cm−1, respectively. In addition, the moderate negative correlation of OI (−0.46) and strong positive correlation of Gx (0.87) with the absorbed dose, made obvious from correlation analysis, confirmed the effectiveness of SP in enhancing the oxidation strength and crosslink density of UHMWPE. Furthermore, cluster analysis (CA) grouped the composites as low, moderate, and best based on dissimilarities, i.e., oxidation strength and crosslink density, which was further confirmed by principal component analysis (PCA). PCA also revealed that the OI, Gx, and absorbed dose were the active variables for this best group. After confirming the effectiveness of SP (as an active filler for enhancing the oxidation strength and crosslink density of UHMWPE) and recognizing the OI, Gx, and absorbed dose as active variables, the next step was to determine the necessary minimum amount of SP concentration and radiation dose required for the composite that outperforms all others. For this, a parametric graph theory and matrix approach was employed to rank the composites of the best group, revealing that the UHMWPE/SP composite with 1% (by wt.) of Si12O30Mg8(OH)4(H2O)4·8H2O and irradiated with 50 kGy of irradiation dose was the most suitable choice of all existing alternatives tested in this study. Although this is the first attempt, to the best of our knowledge, where a smart approach using multivariate calculus and decision-making tools was utilized for figuring the best UHMWPE composite formulation along with appropriate treatment dose, the results and methodology could be extended for any polymer of industrial scale, such as those used in medical implants, defense armor, bulletproof jackets, etc. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Thermoplastic Composites)
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Review

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43 pages, 6750 KiB  
Review
Polyolefins and Polyethylene Terephthalate Package Wastes: Recycling and Use in Composites
by Hannah Jones, Florence Saffar, Vasileios Koutsos and Dipa Ray
Energies 2021, 14(21), 7306; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14217306 - 04 Nov 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5980
Abstract
Plastics are versatile materials used in a variety of sectors that have seen a rapid increase in their global production. Millions of tonnes of plastic wastes are generated each year, which puts pressure on plastic waste management methods to prevent their accumulation within [...] Read more.
Plastics are versatile materials used in a variety of sectors that have seen a rapid increase in their global production. Millions of tonnes of plastic wastes are generated each year, which puts pressure on plastic waste management methods to prevent their accumulation within the environment. Recycling is an attractive disposal method and aids the initiative of a circular plastic economy, but recycling still has challenges to overcome. This review starts with an overview of the current European recycling strategies for solid plastic waste and the challenges faced. Emphasis lies on the recycling of polyolefins (POs) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) which are found in plastic packaging, as packaging contributes a signification proportion to solid plastic wastes. Both sections, the recycling of POs and PET, discuss the sources of wastes, chemical and mechanical recycling, effects of recycling on the material properties, strategies to improve the performance of recycled POs and PET, and finally the applications of recycled POs and PET. The review concludes with a discussion of the future potential and opportunities of recycled POs and PET. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Thermoplastic Composites)
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