Delamination behaviour and surface morphology of wholly thermoplastic composites using different ultra-high molecular weight thermoplastic fabrics with pristine and toughened Elium resin under Mode I loading

Abstract

Current research investigates the manufacturing and bonding characteristics of wholly thermoplastic composites with thermoplastic fibres and acrylic Elium® resin and toughened Elium®IM with 10% weight acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) particles under Mode I loading. Ultra-high molecular weight polypropylene (UHMWPP)/Elium® IM and UHMWPP/Elium® composites have shown 43.9% and 24.5% higher critical energy release rate compared to epoxy composite systems, while a similar trend was observed in the case with composites with polyester as the reinforcement system. For ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)/Elium®, the increase was only 13.7% but with the use of toughened thermoplastic variant, the increase was found to be 36.8% higher. Detailed microscopic examination reported fibre bridging, pull-out, strong fibre–matrix adhesion, riverlines, and matrix deformation owing to the ductile characteristic of Elium® resin. ABS-modified Elium®IM composites have shown rough matrix fracture surface and there was internal cavitation of ABS particles followed by crack growth and local shear band formation.