Paper number 907

- SEMIFLEXIBLE COMPOSITES - DESIGN OF AN ENDLESS C717 WARP-KNITTED REINFORCED THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMER

C.-A. Keun¹,² and K. Schulte¹

1Technical University Hamburg-Harburg, Polymer Composites Group,
Denickestraße 15, D-21071 Hamburg, Germany
2New-York Hamburger Gummi-Waaren Compagnie AG,
Nartenstraße 12, D-21079 Hamburg, Germany

Summary

A design concept for elastomeric profiles is presented. These profiles can be used for conveying and other driving purposes. Their stiffness and strength are improved by a warp-knitted textile structure. The matrix consists of a thermoplastic elastomer. To obtain sufficient resistance against abrasion and aggressive media in a severe environment an adequate thermoplastic elastomer has to be specified. Additionally, the surface energy of the TPE has to correspond to that of the fibre material to obtain a sufficient adhesion to the reinforcement. The textile structure consists of a complex warp knitted structure of polymer fibres of different yarn thickness, fibre twist and textile pattern. The mechanical properties of the designed composite were characterised by finite element analysis (FEA) and experimental work. Finally, the composite was manufactured by extrusion.

Keywords

TPE, warp-knitting, textile pattern, semiflexible, bending behaviour, twist, aramides, polyesters.