Granulometric Characterization of Short Fiberglass in Reinforced Polypropylene. Relation to Processing Conditions and Mechanical Properties

Abstract

In most cases, for reinforced thennoplastics, a knowledge of average filler length is not enough infonnation. The entire granulometric filler distribution needs to be known, if structure is to be correlated with properties. We have developed a technique of granulometric detennination based on image analysis to analyse rapidly the evolution of the granulometry of short fiberglass. Once images in grey levels from polarized light microscopy have been acquired, each selected fiber on the frame is individualized and labelled before measurement and data treatment. For the fiber, the size factor chosen is the length, or the maximum Feret diameter. With this tool, we have been able to study more precisely the evolution of the fiber length distribution during processing with a polypropy lene matrix. Finally, we elucidate the dependence of mechanical properties such as impact and tensile strengths on glass filler size.

Chemical foaming extrusion of poly(lactic acid) with chain-extenders: Physical and morphological characterizations

“…This correction is based on the inclusion probability of the cells into the image frame. For this purpose, the methodology of image frame correction, developed by Miles and Lantuejoul [39,40] was applied. The following data were obtained:…”

Morphological Determinations of Fiber Composites

“…For instance, some authors have developed techniques by coupling image processing and microscopy to determine fiber length [3][4][5][6][7][8], or fiber orientation [9][10][11][12][13]. Waterbury and Drzal [14] determined volume fractions by image analysis and correlated these results with others obtained from the more standard method based on acid digestion.…”