TENSILE PROPERTIES AND FRACTURE-BEHAVIOR OF POLYPROPYLENE NICKEL-COATED CARBON-FIBER COMPOSITE

Polypropylene-based composites reinforced with nickel-coated carbon fibres have been prepared and the effect of filler content on tensile properties and fracture behaviour at different temperatures and strain rates was investigated. The elastic modulus of such composites is enhanced by two orders of magnitude while the tensile strength and strain-to-break are lowered. The fracture toughness parameters, Gc and Kc, are also enhanced with filler content. The yield stress of this composite showed strain rate and temperature dependence. Activation energy and volume of a single rate-activated yielding process, at relatively high strain rates, were determined. The variations of the measured physical quantities are discussed in terms of the observed composite morphology. © 1990 Chapman and Hall Ltd.