Polypropylene–glass fiber/basalt fiber hybrid composites fabricated by direct fiber feeding injection molding process

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science Vol. 134; no. 44
• Main Authors: Yan, Xiaofei, Shen, Hua, Yu, Lichao, Hamada, Hiroyuki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 20.11.2017
• Subjects: Agglomeration; applications; Basalt; Bonding agents; composites; Coupling agents; Feeding; Glass fiber reinforced plastics; Hybrid composites; Impact tests; Injection molding; Injection molding machines; Maleic anhydride; manufacturing; Materials science; Mechanical properties; molding; Molds; Molds & molding; Polymer matrix composites; Polymers; Polypropylene; Scanning electron microscopy
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.45472

ABSTRACT Hybrid composites of polypropylene reinforced with glass fibers and basalt fibers were fabricated by vented injection molding machine which is named the direct fiber feeding injection molding (DFFIM) process. Polyamide 6 and maleic anhydride‐grafted polypropylene has been used as a coupling agent to improve the interfacial bonding between the fibers and matrix. Two types of vented injection molding machines with a different check ring and mold were used for making specimens. The fiber lengths were analyzed to identify the most suitable check ring and mold for the DFFIM process. The mechanical properties of the hybrid composites were investigated by tensile, flexural and Izod impact tests. The interfacial morphology of the fractured tensile specimens was studied by using scanning electron microscopy and showed that there is a fiber agglomeration phenomenon that occurs in the hybrid composites, and it has a significant effect on the mechanical properties of hybrid composites. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 45472.