A Prototype System for Molding Virgin and Recycled Discontinuous Long-Fiber Reinforced Plastic Composites into Commericial Products

连续纤维增强塑料的力学性能优于短纤维增强塑料。然而，由不断增强的塑料制造的部件劳动密集型、耗时和昂贵。在第一阶段，根据工业需求，开发了一种创新的系统，将模具质量、不连续的长纤维、增强塑料产品提高到净尺寸。美国测试材料协会的测试结果表明，这种复合材料具有良好的机械/物理性能。在不牺牲设计和加工灵活性或使用短纤维复合材料的经济优势的情况下，获得了机械优势。回收原料的使用也具有有利的环境影响。在第二阶段，先锋设备将被开发成其商业化及其产品的原型系统。将对其他原始和回收原料材料的使用进行评估，并将进行各种材料成型成工业产品的工艺优化。

Continuous-fiber reinforced plastics are superior mechanically to short-fiber reinforced plastics. However, components fabricated from continuously reinforced plastics are labor-intensive, time consuming and expensive. In phase I and in response to industrial demand, an innovative system to mold quality, discontinuous long- fiber, reinforced plastic products to net dimension was developed. Results of the American Society of Testing Materials test specimens molded from either virgin or virgin/recycled materials and scanning electron microscope and ashing data, substantiate the advantageous mechanical/physical performance of such composite components. The mechanical advantages were achieved without sacrificing the design and processing flexibilities or economical advantages of using short-fiber composites. The use of recycled feed-stock also has favorable environmental implications. In phase II the pioneer equipment will be developed into a prototype system for its commercialization and that of its products. The use of other virgin and recycled feed-stock materials will be evaluated and process optimization for molding various materials into industrial products will be conducted.