Structural description of self-reinforced polypropylene composites

Abstract

Self-reinforced polypropylene composites (SR-PP) possess an exceptional property spectrum and are predestined for use in a multitude of structural or semi-structural applications. However, the underlying macromolecular orientation can only be transferred into the layered composites consolidated out of highly stretched fibres and tapes of semi-finished textile products. Specific preservation of the self-reinforcement throughout processing and beyond is necessary and creates special challenges for processing technology. Depending on the processing temperatures and pressures selected, the highly oriented fibres and tapes are influenced by their own degree of self-reinforcement, which, in turn, affects the microstructure and remaining composite properties. In this publication, three different semi-finished textile products are introduced as basic materials. Exemplary selected test samples, which display a low degree of compaction on the one hand and a high degree of compaction on the other, were subject to wet chemical etching to enable confocal laser scanning microscopic images to be created. These images were then used to compare the microstructures of the semi-finished textile products that were used.