Morphological characterisation of long glass fibre composites for the thermoforming process

This paper lays out the main procedures for performing morphological charac terisations of Long Glass Fibre (LGF) composites with particular reference to the sheet extrusion and thermoforming processes as they may be configure d for production. The techniques used, including optical microscopy, scanni ng electron microscopy and image analysis, are described both with regard t o their laboratory application to these materials and to their potential fo r monitoring the performance of the industrial manufacturing process. Resul ts obtained from the different techniques at the three various stages of th e manufacturing route are presented and discussed in terms of the structure property relationships obtained and the reinforcing fibre mat system typic al of these types of material.