Strength -Composition relationships of random short glass fiber -thermoplastics composites

Twelve polymers and copolymers reinforced with random short glass fibers are used for the study of the strength -composition relationship. Six of these reinforced systems are new and have not been reported elsewhere. The effect of fiber volume fraction on tensile and flexural strengths is related to the Kelly and Tyson equation. For each composition the strengthening factor, F, is calculated and discussed with respect to the structure of the polymer. One factor pertaining to the actual performance of fiber glass, fiber efficiency, K, has been extrapolated for the fiber glass used for this study. The effects of fibers on toughness and the Izod notched impact strength are discussed. It is the impact strength ratio and not the toughness which is used to describe the net result of reinforcement. The deviations between the wet and the dry strengths are used to illustrate the effect of the fiber -matrix interfacial bond. A new parameter, Δθ, is introduced to describe the effect of structure on the fiber -matrix interface. The effect of water at the fiber -matrix interface is further demonstrated through the determination of dielectric constant and dissipation factor of the composite before and after water immersion. The rule of mixtures was found to apply to dry electrical properties of composites.