Propeller Materials

[monrosm@shrewsb]

Can anyone tell me what plastic propeller blades are made of, I think it is a composite but could anyone tell me what this cmposite is caled? As this is a composite does it or does it not have a youngs modulus?
Any help is appriciated.
Thanx
Stefan Monro

[marshmat]

Some of these things are actual composites (ie. there's a reinforcing fibre set in a polymer matrix) but many are just moulded polymers. I can almost guarantee that no manufacturer will ever tell you exactly what their plastic props are made of, as the chemical formulations are closely guarded trade secrets.
As for material properties- most undergrad-level materials engineering textbooks cover basic analysis of polymers and composites; a full explanation would take up too much room on a forum board.
(edit) - Yes, many of these materials do have names, but they are trade names- not scientific and not generally recognized. The only way to get info on a particular plastic prop's material is to ask its manufacturer, and those numbers will likely be skewed in their favour. You could also buy a prop and take it to a lab for destructive testing. But you won't find these materials listed on, say, MatWeb or Azom.