Abstract
The aim of this study is to analyze the interfacial and the frictional properties of copper (Cu) reinforced polyethylene terephthalate (PET) filament. This Cu-Embedded PET filament will be used as an information transmitter. This filament was prepared by a co-extrusion process. Mechanical properties of these filaments have been quantified by tensile and pull-out analyses. It is shown that the mechanical properties of composite filament were improved by adding the copper filament (from 0.82 to 1.2 GPa). The results of the pull-out test revealed some adhesion between the copper and the PET despite the existence of a slippage of the copper filament in the PET matrix. Regarding the variation of the maximum pull-out load, according to the embedded length, a linearity relationship is observed. Therefore, it can be assumed that the interfacial shear stress is constant over the embedded length. Filaments surfaces have been analyzed after friction with Scanning Electron Microscope. Experimental results show a satisfying wear resistance of filaments, even if friction is able to induce some structural modifications of the polymer surface.