EFFECT OF BARREL TEMPERATURE ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF INJECTION MOULDED POLYPROPYLENE-GRASS COMPOSITE
Authors: *Olodu D.D, Osarenmwinda J.O
DOI Info: N/A
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the effect of barrel temperature on the mechanical properties of injection moulded polypropylene-grass composite. The polypropylene and grass were mixed together to form a homogenous mixture with various percentage composition by volume. A two-screw plunger injection moulding machine with maximum clamping force of 70 tons and shot capacity of 3oz was used to produce the composite at various barrel temperature ranging from 210oC to 310oC. The produced composites were evaluated for their mechanical properties which included tensile strength, proof stress, percentage elongation and flexural strength. The maximum tensile strength for the produced PP-Grass composites was determined as 35.11N/mm2 at a barrel temperature of 290oC, while the proof stress was 36N/mm2C at a barrel temperature of 260oC, percentage elongation was 125% at a barrel temperature of 290oC and flexural strength was 42×10N/mm2 at a barrel temperature of 310oC. The results obtained shows that barrel temperature of the injection moulding machine contribute significantly to the mechanical properties of the produced composites.
Affiliations: *Department of Production Engineering, Faculty Engineering, University of Benin, PMB 1154, Benin City, Nigeria.
Keywords: Barrel Temperature, Composite, Mechanical Properties, Injection Moulding, Polypropylene-grass Composite
Published date: 2018/06/30
