Document Abstract
ANTEC Papers: 2001
0624: Investigations into Rotational Moulding of Short Fibre Reinforced Thermos
Simon Bickerton and Roy J. Crawford, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
The addition of reinforcing fibres, or fillers, to liquid thermosets significantly alters the rheological behaviour of such resins, drastically increasing viscosity. In order to successfully mould these materials a good understanding of their rheological behaviour is required. A simple numerical model is developed, predicting evolution of the resin cure reaction, and resulting in-mould rheological, and flow behaviour. Qualitative comparisons are made to initial moulding experiments completed with neat, and wood fibre filled polyester resins. Moderate additions of fibre were found to improve part quality due to the increase in initial viscosity, while a practical limit was reached above which excessive fibre clustering occurred.