Effect of mechanical properties of metal powder-filled hybrid moulded products

Abstract

Abstract The extensive research on polymer composites is motivated by the fact that it can result in obtaining new materials with enhanced properties. This research primarily focuses on investigating basic mechanical properties which determine the use of a particular composite material. This paper presents the results of tests investigating the mechanical properties, i.e. tensile strength, hardness and impact strength, of hybrid injection mouldings produced at constant processing parameters. We used five metal powder fillers: aluminium, zinc, tin, iron and copper powders, with their contents ranging from 2.5 wt% to 15 wt% relative to a polypropylene matrix composite material. The relationships were determined between different contents of the aforementioned metal powder fillers and Young’s modulus, maximum tensile stress, tensile stress at break, strains, Shore hardness and Charpy impact strength. The research also involved investigating mould shrinkage. Relevant conclusions were drawn.