Use of preimpregnated sisal yarn in woven reinforced polypropylene sheets: thermoformability and mechanical properties.: An article from: Polymer Engineering and Science

This digital document is an article from Polymer Engineering and Science, published by Society of Plastics Engineers, Inc. on July 1, 2005. The length of the article is 3550 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

From the author: Thermoplastic composites were made from polypropylene (PP) and long sisal fibers (SF) by using different processing techniques. Four sets of composites specimens were made with a 60/40 (wt/wt) SF/PP ratio: the first set was made by melt-blending PP and SF and compression molding 2-mm-thick flat sheets; a second set was made by melt-blending PP, SF, and maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MA-g-PP); the third set was made by compression molding knitted SF yarns, preimpregnated with PP, between PP sheets; the fourth set was also made by compression molding knitted SF yarns, preimpregnated with diluted MA-g-PP, between PP sheets. The bidirectional array of fibers, containing 60% of SF well-impregnated with a small quantity of MA-g-PP, increases the flexural modulus by 600%, the tensile modulus by 475%, and the tensile strength by 300% compared with unfilled PP. The composites sheets were successfully thermoformed with small wall thickness reductions to obtain a three-dimensional (3D) shape with very low forming energy, outstanding mechanical properties, and excellent surface finish. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 45:976-983, 2005. [c] 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers

Citation Details
Title: Use of preimpregnated sisal yarn in woven reinforced polypropylene sheets: thermoformability and mechanical properties.
Author: L.M. Arzondo
Publication:Polymer Engineering and Science (Magazine/Journal)
Date: July 1, 2005
Publisher: Society of Plastics Engineers, Inc.
Volume: 45 Issue: 7 Page: 976(8)

Distributed by Thomson Gale