Optimising Crystallisation during Rapid Prototyping of Fe3O4-PA6 Polymer Nanocomposite Component

Polymer components capable of self-healing can rapidly be manufactured by injecting the monomer (ε-caprolactam), activator and catalyst mixed with a small amount magnetic nanoparticles into steel mould. The anionic polymerisation produces polymer component capturing in dispersed state. Any microcracks developed this nanocomposite healed exposing it to an external alternating field. Due magnetocaloric effect, locally melt response field fill cracks, but require establishing network within matrix through effective dispersion for functional uniform melting. nanoparticles, however, affect degree crystallinity depending on radius gyration chain diameter nanoparticle agglomerates. variation crystallite size induced melting temperature as well its mechanical strength after testing applications, such stimuli-based self-healing. In case situ synthesis polyamide-6 (PA6) (PMC), there is opportunity alter optimising concentration monomer. This optimisation method offers tune and, thus, properties PMC, which otherwise affected addition nanoparticles. To study effect thermal properties, ratio varied during ε-caprolactam, Fe3O4 kept constant at 1 wt%. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), XRD (X-ray diffraction) Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used find required optimum properties. It was observed that sample 30% N-acetyl caprolactam (NACL) (with 50% EtMgBr) among all samples most suitable Rapid Prototype PMC dog-bone desired formability.