Compression moulding of glass and polypropylene composites for optimised macro- and micro-mechanical properties - 1 Commingled glass and polypropylene

The continuing desire in the automotive industry to reduce cost and weight while increasing safety requires innovative materials and processing routes. Glass-mat-reinforced thermoplastics have been used to produce semi-structural components but a higher and aligned glass fibre content is required in moulding materials for structural applications. Experimental design was used to investigate the non-isothermal processing of commingled fabrics which were woven from yarns of intimately mingled glass and polypropylene fibres. Processing models were generated by regression techniques to predict laminate properties over a range of processing conditions. Void contents were measured by image analysis techniques. Preheat temperature had the greatest effect on laminate flexural properties and porosity. A compaction time of 54 s was required to consolidate, cool and reduce the void content in laminates. A two-fold increase in stiffness was found compared with equivalent glass-mat-reinforced thermoplastic laminates. The intimate distribution of matrix and reinforcement reduced moulding pressures by a factor of 10. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.