Effects of processing temperature, pressure, and fiber volume fraction on mechanical and morphological behaviors of fully-recyclable uni-directional thermoplastic polymer-fiber-reinforced polymers

Abstract

This work explores a type of composite called thermoplastic polymer-fiber-reinforced polymers (PFRPs), often referred to as self-reinforced composites (SRCs). A representative PFRP was exemplified using unidirectional (UD) ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers embedded in a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) matrix. The effects of compression molding temperature and pressure on the mechanical and morphological behaviors of the filament-wound PFRPs with various fiber volume fractions ($V_f$) were experimentally investigated.

The results elucidate the evolution of morphologies and tensile properties of the PFRPs due to thermal melting, fiber misalignment from pressure, and $V_f$-induced structural variance, which has not been comprehensively reported yet. The highest specific tensile strength and modulus of the PFRP laminae reach 600 MPa/(g/cm³) and 31 GPa/(g/cm³), respectively. These properties are comparable to glass-/aramid-fiber-reinforced polymers (GFRPs, GFRTPs, AFRPs, and AFRTPs), with PFRPs exhibiting better ductility (specific strain at peak load $\approx$ 4%/(g/cm³)) than other common polymer composites.

The motivation for this work was the high recyclability of PFRPs, which can be recycled by melting both the fibers and the matrix, and then reshaped them for re-manufacturing composites to maximize the efficiency in material reuse. This process simplifies the implementation of closed-loop recycling, re-manufacturing, and reuse to support sustainability in composites. This work aims to contribute to advancing thermoplastic PFRPs for their potential applications in various industries.