Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research

Title

Characterization of Microstructures and Toughening Behavior of Fiber-Containing Toughened Nylon 6,6

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-2002

Abstract

The toughening behavior of short glass fiber reinforced toughened polymers was studied using fracture mechanics and microscopic techniques. The essential work of fracture (EWF) analysis shows that the inclusion of short glass fibers not only provided a stiffening effect but also a toughening influence. It was observed that rubber-related toughening and fiber-related toughening were competitive in nature for the reinforced, toughened nylon 6,6. When the matrix stress was substantially reduced by the presence of short fibers via the load-shedding mechanism, rubber toughening was severely curtailed. At higher fiber volume fractions, fiber pull-out work contributed significantly to the enhancement of the specific essential fracture work. Fiber-end plasticity was evident under microscopic examination.

Publication Title

Journal of Materials Science

Volume

37

Issue

13

First Page

2659

Last Page

2667

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