Design and analysis of extrusion-compression molding setup for processing of glass fiber reinforced polypropylene composites. (2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Walkare, Ajinkya; Solanki, Bikram Singh; Singh, Harpreet; Sheorey, Tanuja
• Is Part Of: Materials today. Volume 72(2023)Part 6
• Page Start: 3017
• Page End: 3022
• Publication Date: 2023
• Subjects: Short fiber reinforced thermoplastic -- Extrusion nozzle -- Extrusion compression molding -- Temperature uniformity -- Composite properties; Materials science -- Congresses -- Periodicals; 620.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matpr.2022.08.270
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2214-7853

Abstract

Abstract: The processing techniques play a vital role in the development of short fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites. The extrusion technique is used for the compounding of short fiber and polymer before compression molding, as short fibers tend to entangle with each other and cause fiber agglomeration. In this paper, a new extruder nozzle design is firstly proposed for the extrusion compounding process for short glass fiber reinforced polypropylene, which can be utilized to direct the compounded composite flow towards a heated mold and then processed in compression molding. For compression molding of composite, temperature uniformity across mold plays a vital role in achieving uniform properties of the processed composite. A simulation study is done to investigate the effects of cartridge heater dimensions on temperature uniformity across mold, for its potential use as a heating element. The results show different cartridge dimensions produce different temperature profiles across the defined points in the cavity. Dimensional uniformity in the extruded strands can be achieved through the new nozzle design. The proposed nozzle and mold heat setup can be used for the extrusion-compression molding technique for the development of short glass fiber reinforced polypropylene composite.