Characterization of Elastic Constants and Bias Angle in Glass Fiber Reinforced Polystyrene Composite

Abstract

A preliminary investigation on tensile properties of unidirectional glass fiber reinforced polystyrene (PS) composites was conducted. The PS-glass fiber mixture was compression molded for 5 minutes at various fabrication temperatures. The impregnation of matrix resin into the reinforcing agent was studied by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and analysis of void content. A tensile test was used to determine the elastic constants such as longitudinal modulus (EL), transverse modulus (ET), E45 and shear modulus (GLT). The bias angle where the shear coupling element disappears was analyzed at different fabrication temperatures, i.e., 120, 135, 150 and 175⁰C. The observed SEM micrographs of cross-section as well as the void contents revealed that the higher the fabrication temperature, the lower the void content. The tensile properties were significantly improved with increasing fabrication temperature. The bias angle where the shear coupling element vanishes depends on fabrication temperature. The SEM micrograph of fracture surface reveals moderate adhesion between the glass fiber and the matrix PS. The glass transition temperature of PS was not affected by either the processing temperature or the reinforcing glass fiber.