A comparison of the properties of hot compacted gel-spun polyethylene fibre composites with conventional gel-spun polyethylene fibre composites

In this paper we present an investigation of the ballistic and low strain r ate mechanical properties of gel-spun polyethylene (GSPE) fibre composites. Composites were made using two different processing routes, a conventional prepreg route and the hot compaction process developed at the University o f Leeds. Within these two groups different matrices and fibre arrangements were also investigated. Composites manufactured by the hot compaction proce ss were found to have ballistic performance equivalent to that of the compo sites manufactured by the conventional prepreg route. The mechanisms of ene rgy absorption in the two types of composite were, however, different. The hot compacted materials absorbed energy by fibre failure and back-face dela mination while the composites made by the conventional prepreg route absorb ed energy by fibre failure only. Interfacial strength played a very importa nt role in the energy absorption of composites that underwent back-face del amination upon ballistic impact. Crown copyright (C) 1999 Published by Else vier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.