Long fiber thermoplastic pet-based composites: Fiber content and consolidation pressure

Abstract

PET-based long glass fiber thermoplastic (LFT) composites manufactured from PET fibers and E-glass fibers have been studied. To manufacture these composites, PET and glass fibers are first cut to the same length and laid-down into a mold in thin alternate layers to obtain a regular distribution of the polymer and feinforcing fibers. The charge is then compression molded in a steel mold into rectangular plates. In this study, the influence of the glass fiber content and consolidation pressure on the void content, void distribution and mechanical properties is investigated. Results obtained for the influence of the fiber content show significant improvements of the tensile properties with increasing glass fiber content. Only small improvements are however measured for the flexural properties. This is thought to be related to the presence of large and continuous voids in the fiber bundles. Results of mechanical tests also show an improvement of the tensile modulus with increasing consolidation pressure. Finally, mechanical properties obtained in this work for the composites manufactured from glass and PET fibers and compared with polypropylene-based-D-LFT and GMT composites.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye