Influence of Shape of Cross Section on Properties of GF Reinforced Thermo-Plastics

Abstract

Glass-fiber (GF) is good reinforcement because of its large aspect-ratio. GF reinforced thermoplastics (GFRTP) have high mechanical properties, but shortages as that a warp easily occur because of different shrinkage of MD (mold flow direction) and TD (tangential direction of flow). In this study, the effect of new GF having some flat shape of cross section on properties of GFRTP was examined. The modified GF indicated good shrinkage ratio of TD to MD, and restrained the warp of GFRTP. In normal GF, flexural strength and IZOD impact strength of TD went down compared with MD. But for the flat GF, the high reinforcement in TD was indicated same as in MD. Besides the modified GF accompanied with melt polymer at lower share rate in comparison with normal GF and so it indicated good fluidity in mold. The result suggests that the importance of control of fiber shape is same as that of length.