Determining the orientation, distribution and concentration of glass fibers in polymer matrix studied by means of X-ray computed tomography and optical coherence tomography

Outline

M. Aigner, D. Salaberger - Determining the orientation, distribution and concentration of glass fibers in polymer matrix studied by means of X-ray computed tomography and optical coherence tomography - Proceedings of Conference on Industrial Computed Tomography (iCT2014), Wels, Österreich, 2014, pp. 395-402

Abstract

We report on the characterization of glass fiber-filled polypropylene compounds identified by means of X-ray computed tomography and optical coherence tomography. During processing, the fibers can adopt complex patterns of orientation, which influence the mechanical properties of the final product. Gathering information about the flow behavior of polymer melts is important for the design of both extrusion dies and extruded parts. We show the application of X-ray computed tomography and optical coherence tomography to selected polymer extrusion examples. Samples with a variety of fiber volume fractions, fiber lengths, and processing conditions were analyzed, and fiber orientation, distribution, and concentration measured.