Sf. Bush et Fg. Torres, Morphological characterisation of long glass fibre composites for the thermoforming process, INT POLYM P, 15(2), 2000, pp. 208-214
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.