Manufacturing and Characterisation of a Tungsten Fibre-Reinforced Polymer Composite

Using metal fibres in fibre-reinforced polymers is a way to tailor not only the mechanical properties but also material properties like, e.g., electrical and thermal conductivity or toughness. While recent works focus on ductile steel fibres, this work demonstrates the manufacturability of tungsten fibre-reinforced polymers. The Vacuum Assisted Process works well to quasi-unidirectionally reinforce an epoxy matrix with tungsten fibres of 150 µm diameter, achieving a fibre volume content of 23 ± 1% (±standard deviation). Tensile tests of 10 mm-wide tungsten fibre-reinforced polymer specimens yield a Young’s modulus of 89 ± 5 GPa, an ultimate tensile strength of 615 ± 33 MPa, and a failure strain of 1.9 ± 0.2%. The fractured specimens are further investigated, revealing that 66% of the tungsten fibres fail in a dominantly ductile manner with a strongly localised region of plastic deformation. This is a unique feature of tungsten fibres with the potential to enhance the fracture toughness of fibre-reinforced polymers.