Assessment of the Compressive Mechanical Behaviour of Injection Molded E-Glass/Polypropylene by Mechanical Testing and X-Ray Computed Tomography

Abstract

Nowadays, thermoplastic composite materials are considered among the most promising ones as they are gaining the interest of many industrial sectors due to their eco-friendly features such as their recyclability and their low-cost demand while being produced in high volumes. Especially in the automotive industry, there have always been used injection molded thermoplastics reinforced with glass fibers. Among the most concerning issues regarding the injection molded, short fiber-reinforced composites are the fiber distribution, the fiber orientation, and their effect on the overall mechanical performance. In the present work the effect of the injection molding on the compressive properties is investigated experimentally. To this context, compressive mechanical tests have been conducted in a range between sub-zero and elevated temperatures. In addition, X-Ray computed tomography is implemented for characterizing some crucial features. Among them, the fiber volume fraction, in local and global scale, and the orientation of the fibers through the thickness and length of the material are investigated.

A numerical methodology for improving the thermoforming process of complex thermoplastic composite components

“…Among the existing variety of composite materials in terms of both fibre and matrix systems, the thermoplastic-based materials are very appealing, especially to the automotive industry, due to their unique features such as their recyclability and their low requirements of energy spent for both storage and production [4]. Most of these components are fabricated using the traditional injection molding process [4][5] where also short fiber composites may be used. Whenever the quality and structural performance of the produced parts is important, continuous fibers are implemented, usually in the form of textiles (woven or braided).…”

“…Even though significant research has been performed in the field of the formability of composite materials, there is a significant number of parameters that have a strong effect on the output. Firstly, the material type in terms of textile type reinforcement and the polymeric matrix system that defines the temperature window in which the composite plate can be thermoformed [5][6][7]. Secondly the relative crosshead speed between the stamping and mold tools.…”