GF/PP towpregs production, testing and processing

A recently developed coating-line (Nunes et al., Thermoplastic Composite Materials 17(6), 523, 2003) was used to fabricate low-cost glass fibre reinforced polypropylene (GF/PP) towpregs, which were subsequently processed into composites by compression moulding and filament winding. The mechanical properties determined on the final composites are compared with the theoretical predictions. Filament wound prototypes of domestic gas pressure vessels were also produced from the GF/PP towpregs and submitted to internal pressure burst tests. These prototypes have shown accomplishing easily all requirements of the applicable European standards. The excellent obtained results clearly demonstrated that the thermoplastic matrix towpregs have potential to enlarge significantly future applications of composites in large consumption end-use markets.