Abstract
The standard production of glass fibre reinforced PVC involves mixing and granulating the fibre and matrix before extrusion, which allows the use only of very short fibres. More recently a technique has been developed in which long or medium size fibres are arranged in a thin layer into which a dry blend of PVC resin with additives is dispersed using a high voltage electrical field. The product is then heated and pressed in a roll mill to obtain a stiff, impact resistant mat. Trials using a specially developed PVC resin that provides good gelation even without the application of shearing are reported. Significant improvements in flexural modulus and impact strength have been achieved. The sheet also shows good fire resistance and has attracted interest for applications including construction, transport (to provide weight saving) and furniture.
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