The compression of wood/thermoplastic fiber mats during consolidation

Karl R. Englund, Michael P. Wolcott, John C. Hermanson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Secondary processing of non-woven wood and wood/thermoplastic fiber mats is generally performed using compression molding, where heated platens or dies form the final product. Although the study and use of wood-fiber composites is widespread, few research efforts have explicitly described the fundamentals of mat consolidation. In contrast, the wood composite literature has prolifically addressed the compression of wood-strand composites. Models developed for wood-strand composites and powders are reviewed and applied to experimental data for compression of wood and wood/polypropylene (PP) fiber mats. The compression response was monitored during consolidation with varying platen temperatures, densities, and PP content. A model developed from the relationship between the instantaneous modulus and relative density was found to fit the compression of the non-woven fiber mats. The consolidation behavior was analogous to previous work with wood-fiber composites and found to be influenced by the PP content and strain rate.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)273-279
Number of pages7
JournalComposites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing
Volume35
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2004

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Ceramics and Composites
  • Mechanics of Materials

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