Volume 13, Issue 3, 2004

Effects of Loop Density of Knitted Fabric Preform on The Tensile Properties of Composites*

Fan Zaixia, Zhangyu**, Chen Yanmo, Long Hairu

State Key Laboratory for Polymer and Fibre Modification, Donghua University, Shanghai 200051, China

* Funded by Shanghai Key Subject Project

**Author to whom correspondence should be addressed

(Received 11/03; accepted 6/04)

Abstract

The effects of the loop density of knitted fabric preform made from GF/PP commingled yarns on the tensile properties of the composites are investigated. Six groups of composite specimens made from preforms with different loop densities are studied. It has been found that the elastic modulus and tensile strength of the composites show an increase followed by a slight decrease as the increase of the loop density of the preform, while the failure strain just changes totally contrarily.

Keywords: GF/PP commingled yarn; loop density; elastic modulus; tensile strength; failure strain