Numerical Investigation of the Elastic Properties of Polypropylene/Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Fiber inside a Composite Material Based on Its Aspect Ratio and Volume Fraction

Abstract

In this study, the characteristics of a composite material composed of polypropylene (PP) and ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) are investigated. The elastic properties of the PP/UHMWPE composite material composed of short UHMWPE fibers with a low aspect ratio and long UHMWPE fibers with a high aspect ratio are compared and analyzed. In addition, the elastic properties of the PP/UHMWPE composite materials are calculated via finite element analysis and the Halpin–Tsai model by changing the volume fraction of the UHMWPE fibers. The results show that when UHMWPE fibers with a low aspect ratio and volume fraction are used, the results of the modulus of elasticity based on the finite element analysis are consistent with those obtained using the Halpin–Tsai model, although the fiber volume fraction of the UHMWPE fibers increases. Meanwhile, the deviation between the results yielded by both methods increases with the aspect ratio of the fiber. In terms of the shear modulus, the Halpin–Tsai model shows a linear trend. The results from the finite element analysis differ significantly from those of the Halpin–Tsai model owing to the random orientation of the UHMWPE fibers inside the fiber. Using a contour graph constructed based on the finite element analysis results, the aspect ratio and volume fraction of the UHMWPE fibers can be inversely calculated based on the elastic properties when synthesizing a PP/UHMWPE fiber composite. In future studies, the interfacial bonding properties of UHMWPE fibers and PP should be compared and analyzed experimentally.