Title: Filling simulation and mechanical property prediction in the injection moulding of discrete long glass fibre reinforced plastics (LGFRP)

Authors: Fabrizio Quadrini, Federica Trovalusci, Ferruccio Longo, Ines Russo

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via del Politecnico 1, 00133 Rome, Italy. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via del Politecnico 1, 00133 Rome, Italy. ' Plastal S.p.A., Viale G. Verdi 30, 31046 Oderzo (TV), Italy. ' Plastal S.p.A., Viale G. Verdi 30, 31046 Oderzo (TV), Italy

Abstract: Rectangular plates of long glass fibre reinforced polypropylene were injection moulded and specimens were cut from them. Flexural and tensile tests were carried out to experimentally evaluate the distribution of mechanical properties throughout the plate. Despite the simple shape, a complex distribution was observed due to the material flow during filling. The best properties were measured far from the gate in the longitudinal direction and near the plate edges in the transversal direction. A filling simulation was performed by means of commercial SW, by extracting the flow front shape during injection and the final average orientation in the plate. Numerical results are in agreement with experimental observations, allowing a prediction about the distribution of mechanical properties.

Keywords: long glass fibre reinforced plastics; LGFRPs; injection moulding; filling simulation; orientation; thermoplastic composites; mechanical properties; flexural tests; tensile testing; material flow.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCMSSE.2010.033149

International Journal of Computational Materials Science and Surface Engineering, 2010 Vol.3 No.2/3, pp.133 - 142

Published online: 10 May 2010 *

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