Flexural creep of long fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites: Effect of processing-dependent fiber variables on creep response

Flexural creep properties were studied as a function of fiber weight fraction and processing-induced fiber alignment in extrusion/compression-molded, long fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (LFT) nylon 6/6, polypropylene, and high-density polyethylene and their 10 wt.% and 40 wt.% E-glass fiber reinforced LFT composites. The residual fiber lengths and probability distribution parameters were near-equal, regardless of the initial fiber length and processing. Creep compliances decreased with increasing fiber weight fraction, and clear influence of fiber alignment was found in model parameters. Processing-induced fiber alignment imaged using X-ray radiography, was correlated with the creep compliances of strategically sectioned specimens, and tested as per ASTM D-2990. Longitudinal fibers aided in lowering the creep compliance, and the range in compliance decreased with lower preferential fiber alignment. Creep compliances from flexural creep tests and dynamic mechanical analysis/static creep tests were combined using time-temperature-stress superposition (TTSSP) to construct long-term master curves that correlated closely with long-term tests.