Wet powder impregnation for polyethylene composites: preparation and mechanical properties

An alternative processing route for polyethylene-polyethylene composites ha s been developed. The processing route includes an impregnation step in a s uspension of polyethylene powder in propanol. For this step an impregnation and winding machine has been constructed. Further processing steps are the preparation of prepregs and hot compacting to form PE-PE composites. The i nfluence of the impregnation and winding parameters on the fibre volume fra ctions of the resulting composites are discussed. The mechanical properties of unidirectional reinforced PE-PE composites parallel and perpendicular t o the fibre direction are shown in the results of tensile and compression t ests. Finally, the failure mechanisms are described by SEM investigations. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.