Prediction of Fiber Orientation and Mechanical Properties in Short-Fiber Reinforced Injection-Molded Composites

Abstract

Injection molding is a widely used polymer processing operation due to its ability to produce net-shaped components of good dimensional accuracy with relatively short cycle-times. This process is also employed in the production of short-fiber filled polymeric parts, combining the inherent processing advantages in injection-molding with the enhanced performance characteristics of fiber-filled composite materials. In contrast to continuous-fiber reinforced- or unidirectional short-fiber-composites, the properties of short-fiber-reinforced injection-molded (SFRIM) composites greatly depend on the orientation distribution of the fibers in the plastic matrix in addition to the properties of the component phases. One of the key ingredients in the application of computer-aided-engineering techniques to the production of SFRIM parts is the capability to determine the fiber orientation distribution as a result of the processing and also predict the mechanical properties in relation to the orientation distribution.