Residual Fiber Length and Dispersion of the Thermoplastic Resin Composite Material of Fiber Dispersion Type

Abstract

In recent years the use of thermoplastic resin composites strengthened not only by spun glass or carbon fiber but also by natural fiber has been increasing. Unlike the case of thermosetting resins, the molding method has shifted towards mechanization and the target industrial field has also been changing to mass production parts.
On the other hand, although mechanical properties improve due to the increase in aspect ratio, becoming maximized when a continuous fiber is used, the flexibility of the mold falls. However it is not the aspect ratio but the distribution of fiber that is important, with the fiber distribution especially influencing the surface quality of the product and the deviation of mechanical properties.
Accordingly the accomplishment of uniform distribution of a fiber regardless of its aspect ratio is a key issue which should be solved for products to be used for long periods of time.
For thermoplastic composite materials based on distributed fiber, this paper shows that the use of a long residual fiber and high fiber distribution can be compatible by optimizing the screw configuration of the injection molding machine.