LOW-TEMPERATURE IMPACT PROPERTIES OF LONG FIBER THERMOPLASTIC COMPOSITE MOLDING MATERIALS

Four long fiber thermoplastic resin matrices, nylon 6, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and styrene maleic anhydride, containing differing amounts of long fiber glass reinforcement, were tested for notched Izod impact strength over the temperature range of 22 to- 32-degrees-C. The notched impact properties of the long fiber thermoplastic composite molding materials are substantially greater than literature values for short fiber analogues. The fiber dominant performance of the long fiber materials is evidenced by increasing impact values with corresponding increases in weight percent fiber content. No apparent ductile/brittle transition in the fracture mode was observed for the long fiber materials that were tested.