Influences on the mechanical properties of SRCs in a combined compacting and back injecting process

In this research paper, the effects of the combined compacting and back-injection process to produce back-injected self-reinforced composites on the mechanical properties of the self-reinforced composites (SRCs) are investigated. For this purpose, the parameters barrel temperature, time of injection and holding pressure were varied for the back injection. Tensile and bending tests were carried out on the SRCs. The results show that the mechanical properties depend to a large extent on the process parameters. The measured tensile strength varies between approx. 186 and 86 MPa, the stiffness between approx. 3500 and 2000 MPa. The flexural strength is measured between approx. 75 and 5 MPa, the flexural modulus between approx. 5480 and 650 MPa. Flexural tests are more suitable for evaluation of the consolidation, as tensile tests cannot evaluate the adhesion of the fabric layers to each other in the SRCs. Microscopic examinations show that consolidation by the back-injected melt can lead to smaller cross-sections in the SRCs compared to an area that was not back-injected. At high barrel temperatures, melting of individual fabric layers can occur, which explains, among other things, the drop in the mechanical properties of the SRCs.