http://www.core77.com/blog/materials/is_that_carbon_fiber_nope_say_hello_to_tegris_21732.asp
Nice, but not so easy to work with:
Tegris is molded using pressure thermoforming techniques. The required pressure is between 10 and 20 bar, and the temperature window is 140°C to 160°C. Convection heating or controllable IR heat sources are effective. Fabric or sheet can be molded, however, both must be constrained via clamping during the heating and molding process, to prevent shrinkage. Due to its glass-free composition and relatively low pressure requirements, aluminum molds can frequently be substituted for steel molds. Even rubber plug molds may be used on low production runs. Conventional trimming processes work well.
All I know of this fibre is that it has a really awful specific tensile modulus, and a sp. strength that isn’t much better!
Any ideas what it’s used for?
Ballistic applications of all sorts. DAmage resistance. However, you can not use it for structure unless very thick. You can add carbon to it for tension and compression properties, however being PP, it bonds to nothing easily. Painting it is not possible unless plasma treated surface. Best way is to add in colored plastic film.
Is this somewhat similar to something like Innegra?
Yes. I think Innegra is also PP? More or less the same application as Dynemma and Spectra. This Tegris is similar to cat/dog food bags, where it’s a self-reinforced polymer. The higher molecular weight fiber is coated in a low weight resin, which will melt at a lower temp and “infuse” the laminate without damage to the fibers. Sooner or later you have a large block of plastic, that is reinforced with fibers! SpectraShield and Dynemma uses other type of plastic (we think a TPU or SBS) that melts lower than the PE fibers, so it delaminates easier than Tegris.
Yes, Innegra is also PP, Dyneema and Spectra are both UHMWPE which have miles better mech props (mainly due to highly aligned molecules I guess). IMO even Innegra is much better than Tegris as a ballistic fibre.
Interesting riff42, do you mean that Tegris is better (ballistically) because it is harder to delaminate??
Possibly. Just because the resin (pp) will bond better to the fibers (pp) than say, PE vs TPU. I have played with even 2000psi pressed Spectra and Dynemma pieces, and you can easily bend and delam a 1/2" thick piece.
UHMWPE is notoriously hard to bond to, but delam isn’t always a bad thing, because it absorbs energy. But multi-hit performance is poor.
The person who finds a resin system that bonds well to UHMWPE will make a fortune!
more UHMWPE?
YES! SHOW ME THE MONEY!