Numerical Simulation and Characterization of Press Molding of Thermo-Plastic Resin Reinforced by Carbon Nanofiber

Abstract

In the present paper, press molding for thermo-plastic resin toughened by carbon nanofiber were discussed. Polycarbonate (PC) and vapor grown carbon nanofiber (VGCF) are used for the resin matrix and the reinforcement. In order to investigate and simulate the process molding process of the PC/VGCF composite by finite element method, the thermo-viscoelastic property of the composites are estimated using unidirectional compression creep test. The creep functions were converted into relaxation function based on the convolution integral form of the basic equation using Laplace transform. Experimental testing for press molding of the PC/VGCF composites using V-shape die has been carried out. The results of the V-shape profiles and those obtained by FEM analysis were compared to confirm the validity of the present analysis method based on thermo-viscoelastic theory. The effect of the carbon nanofiber for the formability improvement of the PC/VGCF composites was discussed in detail.