Comparison of falling dart and Charpy impact performances of compatibilized and not compatibilized polypropylene/woven glass fibers composites

The effect of the matrix/fibre interface strength on the in-plane and out-of-plane impact performances of glass woven fabric/polypropylene laminates, prepared by means of film stacking technique, was investigated. The interface strength between polymer and fibres was varied by means of a coupling agent added to two different polypropylene grades in order to evaluate its contribution to the impact resistance of the laminates. The static characterization showed that the flexural strength of compatibilized laminates was higher with respect to that of composites based on neat matrices. On the contrary, composites with low interface strength between fibres and polymer showed a strong improvement in impact resistance, in both Charpy and falling dart impact tests. This was related to the possibility of fibres to slip into the matrix and dissipate energy through friction, and to the improved capability to bear load before fibre failure, allowed by the limited propagation of cracks through the laminate. The damage after impact was assessed by means of micro-computed tomography, which elucidated the role of the weak matrix/fibre interface in improving the impact resistance.