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Techniques for compounding glass fiber‐reinforced thermoplastics
Author(s) -
Stade K.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.760170110
Subject(s) - compounding , materials science , composite material , glass fiber , viscosity , fiber , thermal , pellet , dispersion (optics) , volume (thermodynamics) , polymer , physics , meteorology , quantum mechanics , optics
Abstract The processing characteristics of various glass fiberreinforced thermoplastics (FRTP) and the basic approaches for their production are discussed. Experimental work on twostage production‐scale continuous kneaders was conducted to define the most important process variables in compounding FRTP materials. Results demonstrate how processing conditions and screw design influence the temperature profile in the kneader and the glass‐fiber length in finished products. Feed steek appearance (i.e., pellet shape and size), melt viscosity, and volume percentage of fibers are basic material variables. High quality products can be achieved through a careful, layout of the continuous kneader in order to minimize thermal degradation of the base polymer and to effect adequate dispersion of the glass fibers in the matrix.