Properties enhancement of short glass fiber-reinforced thermoplastics via sandwich injection molding

• Published in: Polymer composites Vol. 26; no. 6; pp. 823 - 831
• Main Authors: Patcharaphun, Somjate, Mennig, Günter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.12.2005; Willey; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Composites; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Technology of polymers; Strengthening; Short fiber; Propylene polymer; Fiber reinforced material; Mechanical properties; Tensile property; Experimental study; Mineral fiber; Property processing relationship; Sandwich molding; Impact strength; Phase separation; Concentration effect; Injection molding; Olefin polymer; Fiber orientation; Glass fiber
• ISSN: 0272-8397; 1548-0569
• DOI: 10.1002/pc.20149

This article demonstrates using sandwich injection molding in order to improve the mechanical properties of short glass fiber‐reinforced thermoplastic parts by investigating the effect of fiber orientation, phase separation, and fiber attrition compared to conventional injection molding. In the present case, the effect of short glass fiber content (varying from 0–40 wt%) within the skin and core materials were studied. The results show that the mechanical properties strongly depend not only on the fiber concentration, but also on the fiber orientation and the fiber length distribution inside the injection‐molded part. Slight discrepancies in the findings can be assumed to be due to fiber breakage occurring during the mode of processing. POLYM. COMPOS., 26:823–831, 2005. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers