Nylon fiber reinforcement for polyurethane composites

Abstract The potential of a nylon 6 fiber was evaluated for composite applications involving rigid polyurethane systems. A study showed that the use of COMPET N, a nylon 6 based fiber surface treated to enhance wetout and adhesion, in an ISP polyurethane system results in composites with higher impact values and lower weight than those reinforced with glass fiber. A 2 percent loading of COMPET N matt increased impact values by more than 300 percent over an unreinforced control while a 3 percent loading of glass matt resulted in increases of less than 100 percent. A drop impact test showed COMPET N fabric reinforced composites to absorb twice as much energy as an unreinforced and glass reinforced composite without major damage. These advantages have also been observed in COMPET N/Glass hybrids, in which layer orientation can be used to produce composites with specific properties. Cut fiber reinforced composites were found to exhibit similar properties as fabric reinforced ones resulting in the commercialization of a canoe end cap containing cut nylon fiber. Additional property benefits such as improved impact fatigue and decreased stress cracking have also been observed in nylon 6 reinforced composites resulting in the consideration of these materials for a wide range of applications.