Effects of temperature and impactor nose diameter on the impact behavior of PA6 and PP thermoplastic composites

Abstract

In this study, the effects of temperature and impactor nose diameter on the impact behavior of woven glass-reinforced polyamide 6 (PA6) and polypropylene (PP) thermoplastic composites were investigated experimentally. Impact energies are chosen as 10, 30, 50, 70, 90, 110, 130, and 170 J. The thickness of composite materials is 4 mm. Impact tests were performed using a drop weight impact testing machine, CEAST-Fractovis Plus, and the load capacity of test machine is 22 kN. Hemispherical impactor nose diameter of 12, 7, and 20 mm were used as an impactor. The tests are conducted at room temperature (20°C and 75°C). As a result, the PP composites of the same thickness absorbed more energy than PA6 composites. The amount of absorbed energy of PP and PA6 composites decreased with temperature.