Modeling Injection Moulding Parameters for Flexural Responses of Bio-Fibre Filled Polymer Composites

Abstract

This work is on modeling injection moulding parameters for a bio-fibre filled polymer composite in this case its flexural response. Mercerization and acetylation treatments were applied in surface modification of the bio-fibre. These fibres were ground and sieved into three particle sizes and applied as fillers in the matrix (high density polyethylene). The composites were compounded applying Taguchi robust design of experiment considering seven injection moulding parameters and one non-machine parameter being volume fraction of the reinforcing fibre. An L18 orthogonal array at mixed levels was adopted for the experiment and response evaluation. Analysis on the composites of the three particle sizes show that volume fraction was control factor that has the highest influence on the flexural properties of the composites. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the independent variables in the models can explain over 80% of the response, hence indicating response model fit. The generated predictive models indicated a goodness of fit, hence can comfortably predict the response.