The crystallization and impact properties of high strength polyethylene fibre reinforced LLDPE composites
High strength polyethylene (HSPE) fibre reinforced linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) composites were fabricated to develop impact resistant materials. Crystallization behaviour of the LLDPE resin was investigated in order to understand its interfacial adhesion to HSPE fibre. LLDPE matrix crystallization was affected by the inclusion of HSPE fibre because of the transcrystallization on the fibre surface. Interfacial shear strengths of HSPE/LLDPE composites were varied by altering the cooling rate. Consequently, the impact properties of the resulting composites were dependent on the interfacial strength associated with the matrix crystallization. Large deformations such as transverse bulging and dishing are the main failure modes absorbing impact energy in HSPE/LLDPE composites.