Tensile properties of polymer samples containing millimetre scale silicon microchips

In order to produce monitoring systems for polyethylene pipes, one option is to distribute sensors within the plastic matrix. Currently, no information is available on the effects of small, individual sensors on the structural integrity of polyethylene pipes if these are embedded in the pipe wall. In order to assess the influence of these sensors, small samples were subjected to tensile tests with different sizes and shapes of microchips investigated at different positions and orientations. It was discovered that a square microchip improves the stiffness the most but reduces the ductility of the sample the most, while a microchip with the same area, but of circular shape also acts as reinforcement when its volume is sufficiently large relative to the volume of the polymer matrix, causing the smallest reduction in ductility. The optimal microchip orientation is parallel to the tension direction.