Quasi-static penetration behavior of fiber-reinforced polypropylene and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene matrix composites

The quasi-static punch shear behaviors of thermoplastic composites with different polymer matrices and fiber types were investigated. This study was also focused on how much energy absorption capability can be increased by low fiber fractions. Maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MA-g-PP) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (MA-g-ABS) were used as the matrix material. One layer of aramid, carbon and glass fiber plain weave fabrics was used as the reinforcement material. Quasi-static punch shear test (QS-PST) was applied to the samples to understand the penetration behavior of the samples. The damaged areas were investigated and related to force-displacement curves. The results showed that the neat form of MA-g-PP exhibited 158% more energy absorption than the neat form of MA-g-ABS. In the samples containing one layer of fabric, the highest improvement was observed in the aramid fabric-reinforced MA-g-ABS matrix composites. Aramid fabric increased the energy absorption at a rate of 142.3% in comparison to the neat MA-g-ABS, while carbon fiber fabric and glass fiber fabric increased it by 40% and 63.52%, respectively. Aramid fiber fabric provided no significant improvement in the energy absorption in the MA-g-PP matrix composites, while carbon and glass fiber fabrics contributed to energy absorption at a rate of 48% and 41%, respectively.