Formable woven preforms based on in situ reinforced thermoplastic fibers

Conference · Fri Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:127009

Robertson, C G; Souza, J.P. de; Baird, D G ^[1]

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1. Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State Univ., Blacksburg, VA (United States)

Blends of Vectra B950 (VB) and polypropylene (PP) were spun into fibers utilizing a dual extrusion process for use in formable fabric prepregs. Fibers of 50/50 weight composition were processed up to fiber draw ratios of 106. The tensile modulus of these fibers showed positive deviation from the rule of mixtures for draw ratios greater than 40, and the tensile modulus and strength properties did not level off within the range of draw ratios investigated. The fibers, pre-wetted with polypropylene, were woven into fabrics that were subsequently impregnated with polypropylene sheet to form composites. The tensile mechanical properties of these composites were nearly equivalent to those of long glass fiber reinforced polypropylene. At temperatures between 240 and 280{degrees}C, composites of 6.3 wt.% VB proved formable with elongation to break values in excess of 20%. Impregnated fabric composites were successfully thermoformed without noticeable fiber damage, and a combined fabric impregnation / thermoforming process was developed.

• OSTI ID: 127009
• Report Number(s): CONF-950402--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
ELONGATION
EXTRUSION
FIBERS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MIXTURES
POLYPROPYLENE
THERMOPLASTICS