Improving Tensile Strength by Shortening Fibers in BMC-GFRPs

摘要

Highly-filled, short glass-fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites in the form of injection molded bulk molding compound (BMC) have been used for aerospace, automotive parts, and corrosion resistant needs. These materials are adaptable to many complex shapes, and can be produced with a high-grade surface finish. Up to now, the effect of fiber length on mechanical properties of short-fiber polymer composites has not been extensively covered, however the objective of this work is to demonstrate that it is possible to increase tensile fracture strain and strength by shortening fibers in the BMC-GFRP to sub-millimeter length.