Dynamic mechanical analysis of some randomly-oriented viscoelastic short-fiber composites

Abstract

The mechanical properties of two series of composites consisting of tanned leather fibers in an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer matrix were studied by means of tensile and dynamic mechanical tests. The effect of fiber content on Young's modulus and the viscoelastic properties was studied by using five distinct fiber concentrations. Dynamic measurements were carried out at a frequency of 11 Hz and temperatures from - 70 to 80°C. The applicability of the Hashin correspondence principle was tested in order to provide a better understanding of the fiber content effect on the viscoelastic properties of these composites.