Reinforcing fibers

Fiber-Reinforced Plastics. PVA fiber, with its high strength and toughness, has become widely used as reinforcement fiber for FRP. Strength as high as 1.8 N/tex (18 gf/dtex) has been reported (32,41). Penetration in this field will therefore become more active. 

Thermal Stresses and Properties. In general, ceramic reinforcements (fibers, whiskers, or particles) have a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than that of most metallic matrices. This means that when the composite is subjected to a temperature change, thermal stresses are generated in both components. 

Fig. 7. Schematic of a self-contained plasma processing unit designed to continuously plasma-treat and impregnate with resin, reinforcing fibers for enhanced composite strength. The unit can also be used to plasma-treat wires to be coated or treated for improved adhesion. Throughput speeds of over...

M. D. Smith, Suface Modfcation of High-Strength Reinforcing Fibers by Plasma Treatment, AUiedSignal Inc., Kansas City, Mo., July 1991, p. KCP-613-4369. 

Crystalline polymers undergo a discontinuous decrease in volume when cooled through (Fig. 4). This can lead to nonuniform shrinkage and warping in molded objects. On the other hand, it also causes the polymer to "lock on" to reinforcing fibers, eg, glass (qv), so that crystalline thermoplastics benefit much more than amorphous thermoplastics from fiber reinforcement. 

Tile is based mainly on vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate copolymers. Some polypropylene tile systems have recendy been iatroduced. A petroleum resia is usually employed as an extender and processiag aid conventional vinyl plasticizers and stabilizers also are iacorporated. Reinforcing fibers and limestone constitute the remainder of the tile composition the fibers contribute hot strength for processiag and dimensional stabiHty ia the finished tile, limestone suppHes bulk at an economical cost. Stable pigments are also iacorporated. Siace tile is iastalled oa and below grade level, it is important that the finished product be resistant to the effects of moisture and alkaH. 

Fig. 4. Specific properties of reinforcing fibers for composite materials. K-29 and K-49 represent Kevlar aramid fibers. Other designations are explained...

Another method that has great potential for the preparation of advanced prepregs and has been explored extensively requites fine powders. The reinforcing fibers are coated with fine particles of the resin and, when heated, the resin flows over the fiber. This method requites finely divided particles either in aqueous solution, in an inert volatile solvent, or as high dielectric material that can be charged and coated by electrostatic attraction to the fiber. Synthetic methods that make fine particles, similar to that described for PEEK (23), are needed. 

A. Loss of strength of the reinforcing fibers by a stress-corrosion mechanism. 

Today the renaissance of these materials as reinforcing fibers in technical applications is taking place mainly... 

Table 2 Mechanical Properties of Natural Fibers in Comparison to Conventional Reinforcement Fibers...

The quality of the fiber matrix interface is significant for the application of natural fibers as reinforcement fibers for plastics. Physical and chemical methods can be used to optimize this interface. These modification methods are of different efficiency for the adhesion between matrix and fiber. 

Reinforcing fibers can be modified by physical and chemical methods. Physical methods, such as stretching [22], calandering [23,24], thermotreatment [25], and the production of hybrid yarns [26,27] do not change the chemical composition of the fibers. Physical treatments change structural and surface properties of the fiber and thereby influence the mechanical bondings in the matrix. 

Fiber-reinforced plastics have been widely accepted as materials for structural and nonstructural applications in recent years. The main reasons for interest in FRPs for structural applications are their high specific modulus and strength of the reinforcing fibers. Glass, carbon, Kevlar, and boron fibers are commonly used for reinforcement. However, these are very expensive and, therefore, their use is limited to aerospace applications. 

As the organic plastic or its residual char are removed by the ablative aspects of the hyper-environment, the reinforcing fibers or particle fillers are left exposed and unsup-... 

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