Long-fiber thermoplastic (LFT) composite materials are rapidly expanding in automotive, transportation, and recreational industry. Most of these materials are natural or black in color with a need for secondary painting of the manufactured products. Standard organic pigments and dyes are not stable above 250 C and degrade during processing. Alternatively, inorganic pigments are thermally stable to at least 800 C. High-performance inorganic pigments offer resistance to outdoor weathering, chemicals, and acids. However, in fiber-reinforced composites, the pigment causes fiber attrition and thereby shows reduction in strength. This work explores colored inorganic-pigmented LFT composites. The ability to integrate the color in the manufacturing steps eliminates the need for secondary painting. Pigment variables such as particle size, distribution, chemistry, and coatings have been investigated. The article presents the processing and performance envelopes of colored inorganic-pigmented LFTs in comparison with unpigmented standard LFTs.

Interest in thermoplastic matrix composites has increased in recent years due to several advantages of these materials, including high volume process ability, recyclability, superior damage tolerance and fracture toughness, and ability to produce complex shapes. Among thermoplastic composites, long-fi ber thermoplastics (LFTs) are fi nding increased use in the automotive and transportation sector. Predictive process and material characterization tools are much needed in industry to minimize expensive tooling/process trials and to improve the design avenues for parts produced using LFTs. The current work focuses on fi nite element simulation of LFT materials for two scenarios: fi rst, process modeling of LFTs to evaluate the fl ow of fi berfi lled viscous charge during compression molding and the resulting fi ber orientation prediction and, second, modulus prediction of LFT materials accounting for fi ber orientation and distribution. Together these tools provide insight into the process and performance characteristics of LFT materials.

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