Modification of self-reinforced composites (SRCs) via film stacking process

This work presents the mechanical behavior of self-reinforced composites (SRCs) manufactured and modified via film stacking. For modification, interleaved films made of polypropylene (PP), a thermoplastic elastomer and a polyolefin engage were combined in different ways to induce the elastic modifier into the matrix material. The content of modifier was also varied in two ways. First, the films were produced out of a single material and second out of a compound. So, the same content of modifier was implemented in two different ways. It is shown that, in case of this research, only the kind of modifier and the content but not the way of implementation are responsible for the mechanical behavior of SRCs. It is shown that the modification can adjust the tensile strength, tensile stiffness and impact properties in a broad range. It is also shown that different mechanical properties of the composite can be predicted by a regression model that uses the Shore A hardness and the content of modifier.