INFLUENCE OF FIBER LENGTH, FIBER ORIENTATION, AND INTERFACIAL ADHESION ON POLY(BUTYLENE TEREPHTHALATE) POLYETHYLENE ALLOYS REINFORCED WITH SHORT GLASS-FIBERS

Blends of poly(butylene terephthalate) and high density polyethylene a t a ratio of 80:20 wt% were reinforced with short glass fibers varying from 10 to 30 wt% to enhance mechanical properties. Considerable fibe r damage occurred during injection molding, reducing the number averag e fiber length from the starting value of 4.5 mm to < 1 mm. This value decreased with increasing fiber content, which is also responsible fo r lowering the reinforcement efficiency. The variation in mechanical p roperties has been explained on the basis of fiber orientation and len gth distribution, interfacial bond strength, as well as fiber concentr ation. The effect of an ionomer, which was used to compatibilize the b lends, on properties of corresponding composites has also been studied .