Mechanical properties and fracture of an amorphous metallic ribbon/thermoplastic matrix composite with low volume fraction of reinforcement

Abstract Composite specimens with polypropylene matrix containing up to 1.8 percent volume fraction of amorphous metallic ribbons with the interfacial shear strength ∼0.7 MPa were fabricated by hot compaction under 10 MPa pressure. Their tensile properties and fracture behavior were investigated. It is found that within the investigated range of the volume fraction of reinforecement the composite fracture strength is close to the rule of mixtures predictions. Two types of fracture, matrix and ribbon controlled, are observed. The experimental values of the composite elastic modulus are also close to the rule of mixtures predictions.