Properties and process ability of long fiber-reinforced polymeric composites

The addition of nanoparticles to polymeric matrices has shown great promise for improving mechanical and thermal properties; however, this improvement comes with a decrease of processability. In this study, two different glass fabrics were used. One of them was Windstrand, a stitched equally‐biaxial R‐glass fabric the other was Advantex, a unidirectional glass fiber mat. Both of them are provided by Owens Corning. The mats were sprayed with carbon nanofibers (CNF) on both sides. Mechanical properties of composites manufactured via vacuum‐assisted resin transfer molding were obtained. Permeability, as a measure of processability, of the sprayed glass mats was measured. Mechanical properties are improved, whereas permeability decreases with the addition of CNF. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:655–664, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers