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The paper deals with the influence of the brittleness of glass fibers on the selected performance properties of the fibrous polymer composite. Understanding the fatigue behavior of fiber-reinforced plastics is desirable for exploiting their features in safe, durable, and reliable industrial components. Based on the proposed methodology, it is possible to assess the impact of material reuse on selected mechanical and rheological properties. To verify the methodology by experimental analysis, homopolymer PP reinforced with chemically grafted glass fiber (30 wt%) was selected. The proposed methodology was subsequently verified by experimental analysis and evaluated statistically. The morphology of the fracture surfaces was evaluated, and the fiber-polymer matrix adhesion was monitored at the interface of the fracture surfaces. Based on the measured and evaluated values and fracture surfaces, we can say that the brittleness of the fibers significantly affects the performance properties of the tested polymer composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to analyze the effect of processing parameters, particularly the cooling rate, on the morphology and mechanical properties of reinforced glass fiber polypropylene (GF‐PP) films. To achieve the objective, a multi‐scale analysis was performed to study the different morphology of neat PP and reinforced PP films obtained by controlling the thermal condition during the fabrication process. Films of PP with a thickness of about 100 μm have been prepared to observe the crystalline microstructure's formation and follow its kinetics on the scale of the spherulites. The same procedure was followed using a single glass fiber to obtain the mono‐composite film of PP by controlling the interface/interphase between the fiber and the matrix. Moreover, the dependence of the damage mechanisms on the spherulite diameters and the mechanical test conditions was established. The deformation mechanisms (intra and inter‐spherulitic damage) were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively according to the controlled morphologies produced for the polymer and the composite, especially at the level of the transcrystalline phase. The results confirm that the processing parameters affect not only the width of the transcrystalline phase but also the morphology of the fiber‐matrix interface. Furthermore, increasing the thickness of the transcrystalline phase exhibited remarkably higher interfacial shear strength, as demonstrated by the single fiber fragmentation test. Highlights: Impact of cooling rate on morphology and mechanical properties of glass fiber polypropylene (GF‐PP).Multi‐scale analysis to investigate the distinct morphologies of PP and GF‐PP.Deformation mechanism particularly intra and inter‐spherulitic damage.Attention to the impact on the transcrystalline phase and the fiber‐matrix interface.Influence of transcrystalline phase thickness on interfacial strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fiber-reinforced polymer composites are manufactured using various methods, with vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM or VARIM). This study's primary focus lies in assessing how the orientation of sampling impacts the mechanical properties of glass fiber-reinforced pure and nanocomposites. 2 wt.% nano Al2O3- doped and non-doped composites were produced using the VARTM process. Tensile, flexural, and density test specimens were extracted from three distinct zones and two distinc direction those aligned horizontally to the resin flow (HRF) and those oriented vertically to the resin flow (VRF). Remarkably, results showed up to a 3.91% increase in values from samples in the third zone, particularly on the vacuum outlet side. To facilitate precise stress value comparisons across plates, uniform sample orientation and consistent zone selection are essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]