Week 7

The results of the previous weeks testing were analyzed by graphing the viscosity and Tg of each sample versus the percent of styrene used(see Results Viscosity vs Tg).  From that optimization graph, we determined that the polymer with the best properties with the least amount of styrene was the sample with 15% styrene and 15% MFA.  That sample had a viscosity that was low enough to make the resin workable in the composite manufacturing stage, and it had a Tg that was about 61˚C which is sufficiently high considering room temperature which is 30˚C.  Lab time was scheduled for next week to use the lab to make composites using this 15% styrene and 15% MFA resin with both glass fibers which are an industry standard and Biomid fibers which are made from cellulose.  We also decided to use the resin that had no styrene and 30% MFA in one composite with cellulose fibers in order to make a 100% renewable and styrene free composite.  That resin’s properties of high viscosity and lower Tg were not as good as the samples with styrene, but its properties are good enough that the sample composite made from it would be viable.

Later in this week we also made the first composite with glass fibers and our 15% styrene 15% MFA resin.  We made the sample in 10in by 10in squares of 12 layers of fibers.  The apparatus used to make the composite was a vacuum sealed chamber made of tacky tape and plastic covering.  The vacuum pulled the resin into the chamber, and when the fibers were sufficiently covered in resin the vacuum pump was turned off and the tubes going into the chamber were clamped to keep out any air.