Abstract
The creation of highly oriented, coextruded polypropylene (PP) tapes allows the production of recyclable self-reinforced polypropylene (SRPP) or all-PP composites, with a large temperature processing window and high volume reinforcement content (sim90%). The objective of this research is to assess the performance potential of SRPP composites based on discontinuous or short tapes. For this, the critical tape length for effective mechanical reinforcement of aligned discontinuous PP tapes was determined, while the stress transfer from PP matrix to PP tape was investigated in single tape model composites in combination with an optical strain mapping technique. Mechanical behaviour of both single tape as well as aligned tape model composites was evaluated using finite element analysis (FEA) and used to predict the properties of randomly oriented short tape composites. These discontinuous tape SRPP composites may be of interest from a manufacturing as well as recycling point of view. In terms of manufacturing, such systems are of interest as they may show improved formability during stamping or compression moulding operations while from a recycling point of view it would allow the re-use of production waste like cuttings of fabrics or tapes.
Highlights
Short or discontinuous fibre reinforced thermoplastics have been developed largely to fill the property gap between continuous fibre laminates and unreinforced polymers used largely in non-load bearing applications [1, 2]
The current paper reports on the property evaluation of such discontinuous tape self-reinforced polypropylene (SRPP)
– The Digital Image Correlation strain mapping technique was used to measure the local matrix strains near the tape/matrix interface in single tape model composites
Summary
Short or discontinuous fibre reinforced thermoplastics have been developed largely to fill the property gap between continuous fibre laminates and unreinforced polymers used largely in non-load bearing applications [1, 2]. Short fibre reinforced plastics (SFRP) have a number of advantages as an engineering material. The compromise between cost and performance allows short fibre reinforced thermoplastics to be used in a large number of applications. They are ideal for applications for which stiffness and toughness is important and high volume production and recycling are key. Short fibre reinforced plastics are often the material of choice in the automotive, rail, electrical and electronic, and consumer goods industry
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