The influence of fibre length, diameter and concentration on the strength and strain to failure of glass fibre-reinforced polyamide 6,6

Results of an investigation of the mechanical performance of injection moulded long glass fibre-reinforced polyamide 6,6 composites are presented. The glass fibre content in these composites was varied over the range 10–50% by weight using fibres with average diameters of 10, 14, and 17 μm. Mechanical testing and analysis of the apparent interfacial shear strength was carried out at 23 and 150 °C on dry-as-moulded and boiling water conditioned samples. The results from these composites are compared with standard extrusion compounded short glass fibre materials. The influence of fibre diameter and concentration on the residual fibre length, fibre orientation distribution and composite strength and elongation to failure is presented and discussed in comparison to the predictions of some of the available micromechanical models.