Fabrication and Mechanical Properties of PE/PE Interface-less Composites using Micro-braiding

Abstract

An interface-less PE/PE composite has been fabricated using a micro-braiding technique. With braided fabrics, additional non-braiding yarns can be inserted, within the intertwining yarns (this type is called the middle-end fibre) and at the centre of the micro-braided yarn (this type is called the axial fibre). The effect of moulding conditions on the tensile properties was examined, followed by the effect of the diameter of the reinforcement fibre bundles, which we have called the impregnation distance. Middle-end fibres are more effective in improving the tensile strength than axial fibres because the permeation of the matrix resin into the reinforcement fibre of the middle-end fibre is easier than that of the axial fibre, although the modulus of middle-end fibre was lower than that of axial fibre because the reinforcement fibre bundles of the middle-end fibres were slightly wavy compared to that of the axial structure.