Low velocity impact performance of recyclable all-polypropylene composites

Highly oriented polypropylene (PP) tapes, with high tensile strength and stiffness achieved by molecular orientation during solid state drawing are consolidated to create high performance recyclable all-polypropylene (all-PP) composites. These composites possess a large temperature processing window (> 30 degrees C) and a high volume fraction of highly oriented PP (> 90%). This large processing window is achieved by using co-extruded, highly drawn PP tapes. This paper investigates the impact resistance of these all-PP composites, and the relationship between penetrative and non-penetrative impact behaviour, and composite consolidation conditions. The response of all-PP composites to falling weight impact is reported together with a comparison to conventional commercial glass reinforced polypropylene composites. A model for energy absorption is proposed by comparison with previous studies based on interfacial and tensile failure of tapes and composites. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.