Experimental validation of morphology simulation in glass fibre reinforced polycarbonate discs

Abstract

As assessment is made between Moldflow simulations and experimentally determined fibre orientation distributions at three points along the flow path and 12 layers across the thickness. The material used is a 10% weight short glass fibre reinforced polycarbonate. With this material the physical interaction between fibres during flow is minimised. Centre gated circular discs, where both the shear and the extensional flows are present, were produced over a range of moulding conditions to analyse the effect of flow rate and melt temperature upon the fibre orientation. The fibre orientation was measured using image analysis tools in images obtained by reflection microscopy of polished sections, using the method proposed by Bay. The measurements were made in 12 layers across the thickness.