Applications of nanocomposites and woodfiber plastics for microcellular injection molding

Abstract

The paper reviews the processing advantages and challenges of microcellular injection molding and presents recent research results on applications of nanocomposites and woodfiber-plastic composites as well as new process develop for the microcellular injection molding process. In particular, two types of polyamide (PA-6) neat resins and their filled counterparts, such as a PA-6/ montmorillonite nanocomposite, a cellulose- fiber-reinforced PA-6 composite, and a hybrid PA- 6/cellulose/Wollastonite composite, were injection molded into ASTM test-bar samples with both conventional and microcellular injection molding. These molded samples were then subjected to scanning electron microscope analysis, tensile testing, and impact testing to study how the process conditions and micro- hano-fillers affect the microstructure and mechanical properties of the microcellular injection molded components. For all the materials studied, the microstructure and the mechanical properties of the molded samples were found to be strongly dependent on the process conditions and presence of the filler systems. Finally, initial results of a novel co-injection molding process that combines the aesthetic and processing advantages of injection molding with the property attributes and benefits of microcellular plastics are presented.

Citation

Turng, Lih-Sheng; Yuan, Mingjun; Kharbas, Hrishikesh; Winata, Herman; Caulfield, Daniel F. 2003. Applications of nanocomposites and woodfiber plastics for microcellular injection molding. Seventh International Conference on Woodfiber-Plastic Composites (and other natural fibers), May 19-20, 2003 ... Madison, Wisconsin, USA. Madison, WI : Forest Products Society, 2003: Pages 217-225