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KEY POINTS:
After reviewing the Fibers, Fillers, and Reinforcements
plastics presentation, students should:
• Be able to explain the property changes associated with adding fillers
and fibers to thermoplastic materials
• Be able to name several fillers and fibers as well as the advantages
and disadvantages of each
Fillers, Fibers, and Reinforcements Plastics 001
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Overview
In many applications, thermoplastic materials are not the ideal material
for the job.
They either are not strong enough or they don’t possess the
dimensional stability required.
Overview
By adding certain reinforcing fibers, we can drastically increase the
mechanical properties of the material.
In some other cases, fillers are added just to act as a resin stretcher –
the make it go further. It’s kind of like watering down the kool-aid
at your stand so you have more to sell.
Fillers, Fibers, and Reinforcements Plastics 001
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B. Some fillers form chemical bonds with the polymer they are
reinforcing. Carbon black – crosslinks elastomers.
Fillers, Fibers, and Reinforcements Plastics 001
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Types
A. Calcium carbonate
9. Reduced Shrinkage
10. Improvement of surface finish
11. Lower plate out Image courtesy of heyyu
Nanocomposites
Fillers, Fibers, and Reinforcements Plastics 001
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Fibers
Glass, Aramid, and Carbon fibers are the only fibers of importance for
the reinforcement of plastics.
A. Processed as textile fibers
B. Possess a large length to diameter ratio (l/d>10)
C. Possess sufficient strength and flexibility
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D. Safety – Nontoxic and ecologically safe. Only issues are skin irritation
on contact and inhalation.
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$
Fibers – Glass (continued)
E. Costs – additional costs incurred by using glass include the added
compounding and using specialized equipment to process. $
1. PE, PS, and PVC are generally not reinforced – improvements in
mechanical properties do not justify the additional cost
$
2. When using PA, PC, PET, PBT, and POM the cost is usually justified.
3. In PP, SAN, and ABS the glass fiber reinforced form possesses
properties that approach those of engineering plastics.
$
4. Generally the addition of glass reduces the toughness of a
polymer.
$
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3. Critical length
= tensile stress/(2*interfacial shear stress)
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Fibers – Carbon
Carbon Fibers
A. Produced from either Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) or pitch (mainly pitch)
B. Forms
1. Filament yarns (woven) – 1-320k filaments (1-12k used in
plastics)
2. Short fibers – 3-6 mm long
C. Safety considerations
1. Special exhaust units used to evacuate
dust
2. Dust is highly conductive and electrical
equipment
3. Skin irritation
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Fibers – Aramid
Aramid Fibers
1. Melt at 500ºC
1. Two forms
a. Unoriented – type A
b. Oriented – higher modulus
– type B
2. Types
a. Kevlar
b. Nomex
3. Will absorb moisture – properties will fail in a strongly acidic or
alkaline environment
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E. Safety considerations
1. Special exhaust units used to evacuate dust
2. Dust is flammable and can ignite
3. Skin irritation
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Fibers – Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous Fibers
A. Ceramic fibers – high temperature, very abrasive
1. Aluminum Silica
2. Aluminum Oxide
3. Silicone Carbide
4. Zirconia Silica
B. Metal Fibers – high strength, abrasive
1. Aluminum
2. Nickel
3. Stainless Steel
C. Polymer Fibers
1. Nylon
2. PP
3. PET
4. PE
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Questions?