The influence of processing variables on injection molded in situ composites based on polyphenylene sulfide and a melt processable glass

This work was concerned with addressing how processing variables such as re sin viscosity, melt temperature and mold filling rate influenced the mechan ical properties of injection molded composites consisting of polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) reinforced with a melt processable phosphate glass. During in jection molding, both the PPS and melt processable glass were deformable al lowing the reinforcing phase morphology to be developed during the filling of the mold. Processing variables such as resin viscosity, mixing history, melt temperature, and mold filling; rate were investigated to help maximize the reinforcing contribution of the melt processable glass. It was determi ned that the composites with the highest mechanical properties could be ach ieved by utilizing a higher viscosity resin, enhancing the mixing history, and molding at melt temperatures greater than 330 degrees C For a composite blend containing 40 wt% (26 vol%) glass, the utilization of the optimum pr ocessing conditions led to the formation of composites that offered machine direction moduli 2-3 times greater than that of the neat PPS. (C) 2000 Els evier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.