Observations of Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Plastics Using an X-Ray CT System

Introduction

Fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP) are composite materials consisting of glass fibers or other fibers mixed into plastic to add strength. Materials in which glass fibers are used are referred to as glass-fiber-reinforced plastics (GFRP) . GFRP are widely utilized in motorcycles, automobiles, and other products in transportation machinery-related fields, and for housing equipment and machines. Injection molding is one of the methods used to manufacture parts utilizing GFRP. With injection molding, the orientation of the internal fibers changes depending on the flow of the resin. There is a relationship between this fiber orientation and the mechanical properties of the material, as well as the occurrence of warping and other molding defects. Accordingly, observing the orientation of the internal fibers becomes very important. Conventionally, to observe the fiber orientation, the sample was generally cut and then observed or photographed. With this method however, evaluation takes time and effort, and it is difficult to accurately assess the 3-dimensional structure. This article introduces CT images of GFRP samples taken using an X-ray CT system, as well as analytical results of the CT data using the fiber orientation analysis software.

December 28, 2012 GMT