SEDL / STP / STP1003-EB / STP10019S

Low-Temperature Performance of Short-Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastics

Yau, S-S
Materials engineer, Phillips Petroleum Company, Bartlesville, OK

Chou, T-W
Professor, University of Delaware, Newark, DE

Pages: 10    Published: Jan 1989

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Abstract

This paper reports the temperature-strength relationship of three thermoplastics: polyetherimide, polyethersulfone, and polyetheretherketone as well as their short-glass and carbon fiber reinforced composite configurations. Tensile strength of neat thermoplastics decreased at low temperature (-75°C). Tensile and compressive strengths along with fracture toughness of short-fiber thermoplastic composites were a direct translation of matrix properties. The change in properties was independent of duration of exposure to low temperature. Tensile strength and fracture toughness of composite specimens were higher in the mold fill direction than those in the transverse orientation.