Determination of Processing Parameters for Thermoplastic Biocomposites Based on Hybrid Yarns Using Finite Elements Simulation

Abstract

This paper investigates the processing parameters for the compression molding of hemp/PLA hybrid yarn biocomposites and their effect on the final mechanical properties. Finite element simulations are used to develop and assess the processing parameters, pressure, temperature, and time. These parameters are then evaluated experimentally by producing the composites by two different methods, to compare the results of experimentally determined processing conditions to parameters determined by the simulation analysis. The assessment of mechanical properties is done with several experimental tests, showing small improvements for the composites produced with the simulation method. The application of the simulation analysis results in considerably reduced processing times, from the initial 10 min to only three minutes, thereby vastly improving the processing method. While the employed methods are not yet able to produce composites with greatly improved mechanical properties, this study can be seen as a constructive approach, which has the ability to lead to further improvements.

Effect of processing temperatures on the thermal and mechanical properties of leather waste-ABS composites

“…El-Shekeil et al 17 studied the effect of different processing parameters such as temperature, time and speed on the tensile properties of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) reinforced short kenaf fibre composites and found that optimum values of 190°C, 11 min, and 40 r/min, of temperature, time and speed, respectively, gave the best tensile properties. Vogt et al 16 also obtained vast improved results with considerably reduction in processing times to only 3 min as a function of temperature. When processing engineering thermoplastic polymers, it is necessary that the processing temperature is high enough to be able to melt the thermoplastic material and to enable a relatively quick heat transfer throughout the whole structure for homogeneous mixing.…”

“…14 The processing parameters for the manufacturing of thermoplastic composites are very important as these parameters such as processing temperature, pressure and time have a direct influence on the mechanical properties and performance of the final composite product depending on the individual machine and materials. 15,16 The development of composites of high temperature polymers with leather fibres via melt-mixing technique requires proper settings of processing parameters for ultimate performance of the composites. These parameters, especially temperature is critical in the processing of high temperature thermoplastic composites as low processing temperature will lead to nonhomogeneous distribution of fibres and on the other hand, higher processing temperature might result to thermal degradation of the fibres as well as the matrix.…”