Enhanced Interfacial Shear Strength and Critical Energy Release Rate in Single Glass Fiber-Crosslinked Polypropylene Model Microcomposites.

Uwe Gohs,Carsten Zschech,Serge Zhandarov,Michael Mueller

doi:10.3390/ma11122552

Abstract

Continuous glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites produced by using hybrid yarns show reduced fiber-to-matrix adhesion in comparison to their thermosetting counterparts. Their consolidation involves no curing, and the chemical reactions are limited to the glass fiber surface, the silane coupling agent, and the maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene. This paper investigates the impact of electron beam crosslinkable toughened polypropylene, alkylene-functionalized single glass fibers, and electron-induced grafting and crosslinking on the local interfacial shear strength and critical energy release rate in single glass fiber polypropylene model microcomposites. A systematic comparison of non-, amino-, alkyl-, and alkylene-functionalized single fibers in virgin, crosslinkable toughened and electron beam crosslinked toughened polypropylene was done in order to study their influence on the local interfacial strength parameters. In comparison to amino-functionalized single glass fibers in polypropylene/maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene, an enhanced local interfacial shear strength (+20%) and critical energy release rate (+80%) were observed for alkylene-functionalized single glass fibers in electron beam crosslinked toughened polypropylene.

Highlights

In the last years, the use of fiber-reinforced composites, mainly thermosets, in aerospace, aviation, building, wind energy, sport, leisure, and automotive uses has increased significantly [1].Their continuous use in the automotive and transport industry is driven by the potential of reduced carbon dioxide emissions
Based on References [23,24,25,26], this study was aimed at the impact of melt-spinnable crosslinkable toughened PP (tPP), alkylene-functionalized single glass fiber (GF), and electron beam (EB)-induced chemical changes of interface_2 and matrix on the local interfacial shear strength (IFSS) and critical energy release rate (Gic ) in single GF–PP model microcomposites
Force-Displacement Curves In Figure 2, representative force-displacement curves are shown for each type of single GF–PP

Summary

Introduction

The use of fiber-reinforced composites, mainly thermosets, in aerospace, aviation, building, wind energy, sport, leisure, and automotive uses has increased significantly [1]. Their continuous use in the automotive and transport industry is driven by the potential of reduced carbon dioxide emissions. In Reference [2], highly integrated structures consisting of glass fiber (GF)–polypropylene (PP) hybrid yarn-based composites and an innovative technology demonstrator vehicle were developed These hybrid yarns consisted of matrix and reinforcing filaments [3] and were used for the production of hollow structures by automated preforming technologies in order to fulfill the requirements of high-volume production [4]

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Conclusion