Structure/property relationships associated with woven glass fibres reinforced polypropylene composites

The objective of this work was to examine the effect of thermal history during cooling from the melt on the degree of crystallinity, morphology and as well as the relationship between morphology/thermal history and mechanical properties of a 60:40 weight % mixture of woven glass fibres/PP composites. Mechanical properties studied include low velocity falling weight impact strength, flexural properties (modulus and strength) and interlaminar shear strength (ILSS). However the main focus was low velocity impact strength. The composite laminates were manufactured within a flat mould using a compression moulding press. Three thermal treatments were employed: isothermal crystallization from the melt in the range 106 to 156°C for 10, 30, 60 and 240 minutes in an oven; non-isothermal crystallization from the melt at rates varying from 0.67°C/Min. to 62.4°C/Min; and quenching from 190°C to rzooc and then annealing at 155, 160 and 165°C for one hour. The degree of crystallinity developed in the matrix polymer was determine using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and the matrix morphology was examined by reflected light microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). TEM was used for quenched and annealed specimens....