Rotational Moulding and Powder Processing of Natural Fibre Reinforced Thermoplastics
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Abstract
The present paper describes the development of a new processing technology: rotational moulding of natural fibre reinforced thermoplastics. Different polymer-natural fibre and polymer-flour systems have been characterised. A rotomoulding grade of high density polyethylene has been used as the polymer matrix for the experiments. Fibres, including jute, sisal and cabuya, as well as wood, pecan and rice shell flour of different types have been used as reinforcements.
The rotomoulding process for those composite systems has been studied using an in-house built two-axis rotomoulding rig with variable speed. The final products have been characterised with special emphasis on estimating the level of dispersion of the fibres and their degree of orientation, as well as the consolidation, sintering and bubble formation processes during the different stages. Comparisons have been made with other powder processing routes, involving the sintering of fibre (or flour) reinforced polymer particles including compression moulding.
Morphological characterisation techniques have been adapted to determine the structure-property relationships in these materials at different processing stages. Important improvements in the compression strength of the natural fibre reinforced rotomoulded products compared to the unreinforced materials, accompanied of a good dispersion level of the reinforcing fibres have been reported.
© 2003, Carl Hanser Verlag, Munich
Articles in the same Issue
- Editorial
- Fourteenth in a Series: Heinz List and his Family of Continuous Mixing Machines
- Screw Extrusion
- Influence of Non-Newtonian Behaviour on the Processing Characteristics of Wall-slipping Materials
- Neural Network Approach to Density Control of Rigid PVC Foam in Extrusion Process
- Investigation of Melting Phenomena in Modular Co-rotating Twin Screw Extrusion
- Mixing and Compounding
- Montmorillonite Co-intercalated with Octadecylamine and Stearic Acid by Low Temperature Melting and its Influence on PP Nanocomposites
- Analysis and Optimization of Kenics Static Mixers
- Electret-thermal Analysis of Polymer Blends
- Effects of Zinc Fatty Acids on Improved Polymer Processing for Critical Extrusions
- Flexible Sheet Molding Compound (SMC) Using Aliphatic Polyester as Cross Linker
- Co-Extrusion
- Investigation of the Interfacial Instabilities in the Coextrusion Flow of PE and PS
- Film
- Radiant Heating of Plastics: Application to Film Blowing Processes
- Injection Molding
- Measurement and Prediction of Temperature Distribution in an Injection Molding Cavity
- A Study of Processing Conditions on the Properties of Diffraction Optical Elements by Injection/Compression Molding Process
- Flow Behavior of Sandwich Injection Molding in Sequential and Simultaneous Injection
- Rotational Molding
- Rotational Moulding and Powder Processing of Natural Fibre Reinforced Thermoplastics
Articles in the same Issue
- Editorial
- Fourteenth in a Series: Heinz List and his Family of Continuous Mixing Machines
- Screw Extrusion
- Influence of Non-Newtonian Behaviour on the Processing Characteristics of Wall-slipping Materials
- Neural Network Approach to Density Control of Rigid PVC Foam in Extrusion Process
- Investigation of Melting Phenomena in Modular Co-rotating Twin Screw Extrusion
- Mixing and Compounding
- Montmorillonite Co-intercalated with Octadecylamine and Stearic Acid by Low Temperature Melting and its Influence on PP Nanocomposites
- Analysis and Optimization of Kenics Static Mixers
- Electret-thermal Analysis of Polymer Blends
- Effects of Zinc Fatty Acids on Improved Polymer Processing for Critical Extrusions
- Flexible Sheet Molding Compound (SMC) Using Aliphatic Polyester as Cross Linker
- Co-Extrusion
- Investigation of the Interfacial Instabilities in the Coextrusion Flow of PE and PS
- Film
- Radiant Heating of Plastics: Application to Film Blowing Processes
- Injection Molding
- Measurement and Prediction of Temperature Distribution in an Injection Molding Cavity
- A Study of Processing Conditions on the Properties of Diffraction Optical Elements by Injection/Compression Molding Process
- Flow Behavior of Sandwich Injection Molding in Sequential and Simultaneous Injection
- Rotational Molding
- Rotational Moulding and Powder Processing of Natural Fibre Reinforced Thermoplastics
