Impregnation of thermoplastic resin in jute fiber mat

Abstract

Impregnation rate of thermoplastic resin (polypropylene) in jute fiber mat and influence of relative factors on impregnation were studied, aiming to develop the continuous melt impregnation technique and to investigate the effect of impregnation rate and temperature on processing conditions and mechanical properties of natural fiber mat-reinforced thermoplastics. Influence of pressure on porosity of fiber mat and effect of melt viscosity on impregnation rate were also investigated. The modified capillary rheometer was used as apparatus and experimental data were analyzed based on the one-dimension Darcy’s law. Results showed that at a given pressure, the impregnation rate is inversely proportional to melt viscosity and jute fiber mat has higher porosity than glass fiber mat. The architecture, compressibility, permeability and fiber diameter of jute fiber mat were compared with those of glass fiber mat and their effects on impregnation were discussed further. It could be seen that the average diameter of jute fiber is much bigger; the porosity of jute fiber mat is significantly higher and inner bundle impregnation does not exist in jute fiber mat. Therefore, it is not difficult to understand why the impregnation rate in jute fiber mat is 3.5 times higher and permeability is 14 times greater. Kozeny constants of jute and glass fiber mats calculated based on the capillary model are 2950 and 442, respectively.

References

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