Injection molding of short fiber thermoplastic bio-composites: Prediction of the fiber orientation

Abstract

<jats:p> Injection molding of short fiber reinforced thermoplastic polymer results in a preferential fiber orientation in the part, which leads to an anisotropy in the material mechanical properties. To anticipate the molded part performances, it is necessary to predict the fiber orientation pattern. Our goal is to have a practical tool that accurately predicts fiber orientation patterns, and to use that information to estimate the final product properties. Consequently, an efficient way to determine the flow induced fiber orientation for different flow cases under real injection molding conditions is presented. The proposed approach allows the average orientation angle prediction in a section by considering the close interaction between the fibers and the flow rheology, the fibers aspect ratio and the mold geometry. Finally, to validate the model, experimental data were taken with different matrices, fibers and mold geometries, where good agreements (R<jats:sup>2</jats:sup> ≥ 0.8) were obtained for the fiber orientations measurements. </jats:p>

Uncertainty Evaluation in Vision-Based Techniques for the Surface Analysis of Composite Material Components

“…Simulation plays a fundamental role for process optimization, but many aspects should be taken into account when the phenomenon is so complex, with reference not only to physical and chemical characteristics of materials, but also to the real operating condition during the production process [ 8 , 9 , 10 ]. For these reasons, the integration and completion with experimental evaluations is an unavoidable aspect of the approaches aiming to optimize the production process.…”