Low velocity and compression after impact behaviors of fiber‐reinforced MA‐g‐PP and MA‐g‐ABS matrix composites

Abstract This study mainly focused on how one layer of fiber fabric can increase the energy absorption and post‐damage behaviors of composite structures. For this purpose, the low velocity and compression after impact behaviors of thermoplastic matrix composite materials were experimentally investigated. A total of 0.1%–0.3% maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene and 0.3%–0.5% maleic anhydride grafted acrylonitrile butadiene styrene polymers were used as the matrix materials, whereas only single‐layer plain weave aramid fiber, carbon fiber, and glass fiber fabric were used as the reinforcement materials. The impact tests were conducted at the energy values of 20, 50, and 80 J. The results showed that the aramid fiber increased energy absorption on every level of impact energy for both matrix materials, while the carbon and glass fiber fabrics only increased the energy absorption of the MA‐g‐ABS matrix. They negatively affected the energy absorption of the MA‐g‐PP polymer. No reinforcement materials had any contribution to the maximum CAI strength value of the two matrix materials, especially in the MA‐g‐ABS composites, while all reinforcement materials increased the maximum strain values of MA‐g‐ABS up to 75%. They did not increase the CAI strain values of MA‐g‐PP due to the flexible structure of polypropylene.