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Polymers and Polymer Composites

HYDROTHERMAL AGEING OF GF/PP COMPOSITES: WHEN GLASS/POLYMER ADHESION FAVOURS WATER ENTRAPMENT

January 1, 2005 By: Lariviere D; Krawczak P; Tiberi C; Lucas P Research article

Title: HYDROTHERMAL AGEING OF GF/PP COMPOSITES: WHEN GLASS/POLYMER ADHESION FAVOURS WATER ENTRAPMENT
Page Range: p.27-35
Author(s): Lariviere D; Krawczak P; Tiberi C; Lucas P
File size: 173K
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Journal: Polymers and Polymer Composites
Issue Year: ppc
Volume: 13
Issue No: No. 1

Abstract
The aim of this paper is to investigate the effects of hydrothermal ageing on the mechanical behaviour in transverse tension of commingled PP/glass fibre yarn composites with different interfacial qualities, and also to investigate the influence of a silane based glass sizing and of a PP-g-MAH matrix coupling on the water absorption level and on the desorption rate of these materials. It was observed that the aminosilane fibre sizing protected these materials very well against water, and that the fibre sizing resulted in a diminution of the amount of absorbed water. It is shown that the better the adhesion, the longer the water stayed inside the composite material. This appears to be the counterpart of the protecting role against moisture of a strong interface. The interfacial interactions act as barriers during absorption and also during desorption, leading to water molecule entrapment. The persistence of water trapped at the interfaces in the case of sized glass fibres composites, leads to the recommendation to investigate the long term effects on longitudinal tension properties, since the effects of zero-stress ageing are known to reduce fibre strength, it is stated. 29 refs.

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