Continuous nylon-fiber reinforced

Retarded Necking in Continuous Nylon-Fiber Reinforced Polypropylene... 

The tensile properties of isotactic polypropylene materials reinforced with continuous nylon fibers were measured. Less than 10 vol % of the fibers leads to an increased yield strength and yield elongation. As little as 3 vol % of the nylon fibers increased the elongation at necking from 10 to 20%. This retarded necking arises from the fiber-matrix debonding which delocalizes the microscopic yielding processes. 

Fiber-reinforced composites contain strong fibers embedded in a continuous phase. They form the basis of many of the advanced and space-age products. They are important because they offer strength without weight and good resistance to weathering. Typical fibers are fiberous glass, carbon-based, aromatic nylons, and polyolefins. Typical resins are polyimides, polyesters, epoxys, PF, and many synthetic polymers. Applications include biomedical, boating, aerospace and outer space, sports, automotive, and industry. 

In an aligned and continuous carbon fiber-O reinforced nylon 6,6 composite, the fibers are to... 

Polypropylene sheet has been used most extensively however, thermoplastic polyester, polycarbonate, and nylon versions are available (see Elastomers, synthetic Polycarbonates). Continuous strand glass fiber mat is the typical reinforcement. The limited number of sheet suppHers reduces potential for competitive pricing. 

There is a modified centrifugal casting process that produces continuous filament reinforced TP pipes/tubes with precise fiber placement and smooth internal and external surfaces. TPs such as nylon and polypropylene have been reinforced with fibers such as glass and carbon. Products such as automotive drive shafts and bearings have been fabricated with fiber volumes up to 60wt%. These tubes have very low rotational unbalances and tight tolerance of wall thickness (Chapter 15). 

Organic matrices are divided into thermosets and thermoplastics. The main thermoset matrices are polyesters, epoxies, phenolics, and polyimides, polyesters being the most widely used in commercial applications (3,4). Epoxy and polyimide resins are applied in advanced composites for structural aerospace applications (1,5). Thermoplastics Uke polyolefins, nylons, and polyesters are reinforced with short fibers (3). They are known as traditional polymeric matrices. Advanced thermoplastic polymeric matrices like poly(ether ketones) and polysulfones have a higher service temperature than the traditional ones (1,6). They have service properties similar to those of thermoset matrices and are reinforced with continuous fibers. Of course, composites reinforced with discontinuous fibers have weaker mechanical properties than those with continuous fibers. Elastomers are generally reinforced by the addition of carbon black or silica. Although they are reinforced polymers, traditionally they are studied separately due to their singular properties (see Chap. 3). 

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