Approach to reduce environmental impact of fiber reinforced plastic by using Flat glass fiber
Topic(s) : Material science
Co-authors :
Yosuke NUKUI (JAPAN)Abstract :
【Background】
In recent years, there has been a strong demand to reduce the environmental impact (CFP reduction, recycling), the glass fiber used in fiber-reinforced plastic is also required to contribute to this demand.
Glass fiber is originally a low environmental impact material. It is known that the CFP value (kg CO2 eq) is about 1.5, which is lower than other reinforced fiber (Ex: Carbon fiber: about 20) and matrix resin (EX PA6 about 4.5). [1,2,3] In this study, we report the potential to reduce the carbon foot print (CFP) of fiber-reinforced plastic and to add value to the materials when they are recycled by using the flat glass fiber
【About Flat glass Fiber】
Flat glass fiber is a specialized material with the shape of the cross section being a rectangle. Due to this characteristic shape, various composite properties are improved, for example, warpage, anisotropy reduction, flowability and higher mechanical property in high glass contents. [4]
【Composite’s CFP reduction by using Flat glass Fiber】
Glass fiber is a low CFP material, thus, by increasing the glass fiber contents, the composite application’s CFP value would decrease. In this study, we compared each of the properties and CFP value when changing the glass fiber contents, glass fiber type and composite thickness.
We used the bench mark as the glass round fiber 30wt%-PA6-3mm thickness composite. If the glass fiber changes to a flat glass fiber with a content up to 40wt% and decrease the composite thickness to 2.5mm, it is possible to decrease the CFP value about 15% at the same weight. In these approaches, the problem is flowability and warpage, but by using the flat glass fiber, it would be possible to solve these issues. Also, the mechanical property difference due to the thickness is almost covered by the increased glass fiber contents, and additionally, the traverse direction (TD) property is improved by using the flat glass fiber. [File 1]
【Second time use of flat glass fiber composite】
Material recycle, which is use crushing composite material for injection molding is an eco-friendly method, and a lot of manufactures have already carried this out, but the properties control and added value are their issues. In this study, we evaluated the flat glass fiber composite’s (Spool runner and test pieces) second time use. As a result, even for the second time use, the flat glass fiber’s features, which is a low warpage and anisotropy reduction are significantly effective. [File2] Generally, with more and more repeat recycling, the remaining fiber length would be shorter and the mechanical property would lower and lower, but in these situations, the flat glass fiber could contribute to other aspects.
In the full paper and presentation, we plan to the additional report, which is the use of bold flat glass fibers to improve the flowability and also the use of the flat glass fiber woven fabric to improve the material recycle composite’s mechanical property.
In recent years, there has been a strong demand to reduce the environmental impact (CFP reduction, recycling), the glass fiber used in fiber-reinforced plastic is also required to contribute to this demand.
Glass fiber is originally a low environmental impact material. It is known that the CFP value (kg CO2 eq) is about 1.5, which is lower than other reinforced fiber (Ex: Carbon fiber: about 20) and matrix resin (EX PA6 about 4.5). [1,2,3] In this study, we report the potential to reduce the carbon foot print (CFP) of fiber-reinforced plastic and to add value to the materials when they are recycled by using the flat glass fiber
【About Flat glass Fiber】
Flat glass fiber is a specialized material with the shape of the cross section being a rectangle. Due to this characteristic shape, various composite properties are improved, for example, warpage, anisotropy reduction, flowability and higher mechanical property in high glass contents. [4]
【Composite’s CFP reduction by using Flat glass Fiber】
Glass fiber is a low CFP material, thus, by increasing the glass fiber contents, the composite application’s CFP value would decrease. In this study, we compared each of the properties and CFP value when changing the glass fiber contents, glass fiber type and composite thickness.
We used the bench mark as the glass round fiber 30wt%-PA6-3mm thickness composite. If the glass fiber changes to a flat glass fiber with a content up to 40wt% and decrease the composite thickness to 2.5mm, it is possible to decrease the CFP value about 15% at the same weight. In these approaches, the problem is flowability and warpage, but by using the flat glass fiber, it would be possible to solve these issues. Also, the mechanical property difference due to the thickness is almost covered by the increased glass fiber contents, and additionally, the traverse direction (TD) property is improved by using the flat glass fiber. [File 1]
【Second time use of flat glass fiber composite】
Material recycle, which is use crushing composite material for injection molding is an eco-friendly method, and a lot of manufactures have already carried this out, but the properties control and added value are their issues. In this study, we evaluated the flat glass fiber composite’s (Spool runner and test pieces) second time use. As a result, even for the second time use, the flat glass fiber’s features, which is a low warpage and anisotropy reduction are significantly effective. [File2] Generally, with more and more repeat recycling, the remaining fiber length would be shorter and the mechanical property would lower and lower, but in these situations, the flat glass fiber could contribute to other aspects.
In the full paper and presentation, we plan to the additional report, which is the use of bold flat glass fibers to improve the flowability and also the use of the flat glass fiber woven fabric to improve the material recycle composite’s mechanical property.