Processing technique and fiber orientation angle affecting the mechanical properties of E-glass fiber reinforced wood/PVC composites

In this work, E-glass fibers (GF) with different fiber forms, loadings and orientation angles were introduced into wood/poly(vinyl chloride) (WPVC) composites. The GF reinforced WPVC composites were manufactured either by compression molding or by twin-screw extrusion process, and the mechanical properties of the composites from these two processes were then compared. The experimental results suggested that the compression process was more effective for the production of GF reinforced WPVC composites than the twin-screw extrusion process. The specific density of the GF/WPVC composite by the compression technique was greater. The orientation angle of glass fiber was found to have a more pronounced effect on the impact properties of the GF/WPVC composites. The maximum mechanical properties of the GF/WPVC composites could be obtained by using the compression molding technique to manufacture the composite products with fiber orientation angle of 0°.