Manufacturing and Mechanical Characterization of Unidirectional Polyethylene-Fibre/Polyethylene-Matrix Composites

A new material consisting of high-modulus polyethylene fibres (Dyneema SK60) in a polyethylene (Hostalen GM 9240 HT) matrix (PE /PE) has been prepared and its properties evaluated. After first discussing what matrix characteristics are required to get a good composite with fibre volume fraction appr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Composites science and technology 1991-01, Vol.45 (3), p.247-255
Main Authors: Marais, C, Feillard, P
Format: Article
Language:English
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:A new material consisting of high-modulus polyethylene fibres (Dyneema SK60) in a polyethylene (Hostalen GM 9240 HT) matrix (PE /PE) has been prepared and its properties evaluated. After first discussing what matrix characteristics are required to get a good composite with fibre volume fraction approx 0.7, the manufacturing method from prepreg preparation up to the moulding process including post-treatment by electron irradiation is described. Mechanical properties of the unidirectional PE/PE laminates are then presented. In the fibre direction, strength and modulus values are intermediate between those of carbon/epoxy and aramid /epoxy composites whereas the usual weakness is observed for off-axis properties. Material irradiation has a negligible effect on both fracture and time-dependent properties. Physical aspects like crystallinity and electromagnetic properties of PE/PE are also discussed.
ISSN:0266-3538