Fiber–matrix interactions in aramid‐short‐fiber‐reinforced thermoplastic polyurethane composites

Abstract The mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) elastomers reinforced with two types of aramid short fibers, m ‐aramid (Teijin‐Conex) and copoly( p ‐aramid) (Technora), were investigated in this study with respect to the fiber loading. In general, both types of composites exhibited very similar stress–strain behaviors, except that Technora–TPU was stronger than Conex–TPU. This was primarily due to the intrinsic strength of the reinforcing fibers. Both types of fibers reinforced TPU effectively without any surface treatment. This could be attributed to good fiber–matrix interactions, which were revealed by the broadening of the tan δ peak in dynamic mechanical analysis. Furthermore, the morphologies of cryogenically fractured surfaces of the composites and extracted fibers, investigated with scanning electron microscopy, revealed possible polar–polar interactions between the aramid fibers and TPU matrices. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 1059–1067, 2003