Glass fiber length and orientation analysis of reinforced polymers (GFRP)
Jennifer Schillings, Arno Wilbers and Joachim Loos, DSM Materials Science Center, Geleen, The Netherlands
Royal DSM is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and
materials. Within DSM’s Materials Cluster DSM Engineering Plastics is a global player in specialty plastics. These materials are used in components for the electrical and electronics, automotive, flexible food packaging and consumer goods industries.
A typical product made of DSM Engineering Plastics’ polymer portfolio are USB-C connectors. Key performance indicators for this application are dimensional and temperature stability together with excellent mechanical properties, which is achieved by compounding the polymer with glass fibers. At the end, the performance of the connector depends on fiber loading, length and orientation.