Optimum consolidation of all-polyester woven fabric-reinforced composite laminates by film stacking

This study involves the examination of all-polyester composites prepared using the two-step consolidation of lamina and composites. The raw materials in this process are poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) plain woven fabric, used as reinforcement, and biodegradable polyester, used as a matrix. First, the all-polyester laminae were produced at various consolidation temperatures (200, 210, 220, and 230 degrees C) with a holding time of 1 min. Then, all-polyester composites were prepared at various consolidation temperatures (200, 205, 210, 215, and 225 degrees C) with a 3-min holding time, using all-polyester laminae consolidated at 220 degrees C. This study established that proper lamina preparation is necessary for preparing a good composite, and a method is proposed that allows a wide processing window for composite preparation. The method is validated through the results of tensile, flexural, and Izod impact tests of lamina and composites. The optimum consolidation temperature observed was 220 degrees C for all-polyester lamina and 200215 degrees C for all-polyester composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. (c) 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers