MECHANICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND EFFECT OF WATER ABSOPRTION ON PLA/CARBON FIBER COMPOSITES IN INJECTION MOLDING

摘要

This study investigated the mechanical behaviors of injection molded polylactic acid (PLA) composites reinforced with carbon fiber (CF) at different fiber loading levels (5 wt%,10 wt%,15 wt% & 20 wt%).PLA,a biodegradable thermoplastic derived from renewable resources,has been replacing petroleum-based plastics in many applications due to its sustainability and low environmental impact However,the low mechanical strength limits its wide structural applications.The addition of small amount of CF significantly increased the tensile strength and modulus while leading to reduced ductility.Compared to pure PLA,the composites with 5 wt% CF content had a 40% increase of tensile modulus and a 63% decrease of elongation-at-break.The effects of water absorption on the mechanical properties of PLA/CF composites were also studied.