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Abstract

In this work, manufacturing steps of composites were simultaneously analyzed to optimize four mechanical properties (flexural and tensile moduli, impact strength, and tensile stress at yield) of flax fiber/postconsumer recycled plastic composite. Eight parameters of the extrusion-injection process (extrusion: temperature profile and screw speed; injection: temperature profile in the barrel, mold temperature, injection speed, injection pressure, injection time, and back pressure) were selected. Process optimization, taking into account simultaneously all the mechanical properties (multi-responses optimization), required four steps: determination of influential factors by a screening design and an evaluation of the selected factors effects on the mechanical properties, modeling of the relationships between mechanical properties and significant factors by a Box–Behnken experimental design and a multiple linear regression analysis, identification of the potentially optimum conditions using the desirability function approach (Derringer–Suich model), and determination the optimum composite manufacturing conditions by a comparative analysis of the material relative qualities.

Keywords

Postconsumer natural fiber/plastic composite mechanical properties multiple linear regression analysis desirability function approach optimization

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