Forming and Self-forming of Thermoplastic Polymer Composites (2)
May 25th, 2006
Paper to the Smart Materials Workshop, Institute of Materials and Qinetiq, London
S F Bush
Abstract
To be useful, a polymer composite, like any other material, must be formable into a product able to maintain its shape within specified tolerances under the likely imposed loads over a given temperature range, all at an acceptable economic price. When discrete fibres are used with thermoplastic polymers, the distribution, orientation, wetting, and length of the fibres in different parts of the product are all features which must be controlled if the product is to maintain its shape and functions in service. The paper discusses these factors and shows how the self-forming principle can be used to extend the range of shapes which can be made economically.
References
[1] D R Blackburn and O K Ademosu, Poly Proc Soc. 9th Ann Mtg, Manchester (5-8 April 1993). Paper 06-14.
[2] S F Bush, F Yilmaz and P F Zhang, Impact Strengths of Injection Moulded Polypropylene Long Glass Fibre Composites, Plastic Rubber Composites 24 (1995) 139-147.
[3] S F Bush, Long Glass Fibre Reinforcement of Thermoplastics, Int Polymer Proc 14 (1999) 280-290.
[4] F G Torres and S F Bush, Sheet Extrusion and Thermoforming of Discrete Long Glass Fibre Reinforced Polypropylene, Composites Part A 31 (2000), 1289-94.
[5] S F Bush, J D Tonkin and F G Torres, Discrete Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composites: Results from Blow Moulding and Thermoforming, (2003) 19th Ann Mtg Poly Proc Soc, Melbourne, Australia.
[6] D R Blackburn and O K Ademosu, Proc 9th Intl Conf Reinf Fibre Composites (2002) pp 402-07.
[7] D R Blackburn, S F Bush, J M Methven, A Neuendorf, UK Pat No. GB 2,369,322 (June 6 2004) “Self-forming Polymer Composites”.
[8] K J Jamieson, M.Phil, UMIST, August 2004.