TY - JFULL AU - Nidal H. Abu-Zahra and Murtatha M. Jamel and Parisa Khoshnoud and Subhashini Gunashekar PY - 2015/2/ TI - Enhanced Dimensional Stability of Rigid PVC Foams Using Glass Fibers T2 - International Journal of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering SP - 11 EP - 17 VL - 9 SN - 1307-6892 UR - https://publications.waset.org/pdf/10000154 PU - World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology NX - Open Science Index 97, 2015 N2 - Two types of glass fibers having different lengths (1/16" and 1/32") were added into rigid PVC foams to enhance the dimensional stability of extruded rigid Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) foam at different concentrations (0-20 phr) using a single screw profile extruder. PVC foam-glass fiber composites (PVC-GF) were characterized for their dimensional stability, structural, thermal, and mechanical properties. Experimental results show that the dimensional stability, heat resistance, and storage modulus were enhanced without compromising the tensile and flexural strengths of the composites. Overall, foam composites which were prepared with longer glass fibers exhibit better mechanical and thermal properties than those prepared with shorter glass fibers due to higher interlocking between the fibers and the foam cells, which result in better load distribution in the matrix. ER -