Property ModellingPredictions of tensile strength of short inorganic fibre reinforced polymer composites

Mechanical analysis was made based on the micro-mechanical model of short inorganic fibre reinforced polymer composites, and an expression for tensile strength was derived by introducing an interfacial strength factor. This equation was applied to estimate the tensile strength of short inorganic fibre reinforced polymer composites. The results showed that the relative tensile strength increased nonlinearly with increasing fibre volume fraction. Finally, the equation was preliminarily verified by using the measured tensile strength of both short glass fibre reinforced polycarbonate/acrylnitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer composites and short carbon fibre reinforced polyamide composites reported in literature. Good agreement was found between the predictions and the experimental data.

► A new tensile strength equation of short inorganic fiber reinforced polymer composite was derived. ► The tensile strength of PC/ABS/SGF and PA/SCF composites was estimated by means of this equation. ► Good agreement was found between the predictions and the experimental data from the two composites.