Dr. F. Parodi  -  Industrial R&D Expert

Expertise & Know-How:  Glass Fibers

glass fibers |

Dr. Parodi's career in industry involved about 20 years of applied R&D on manufacturing and coating, sizing & binding of glass fibers, composite materials (physical chemistry & micromechanics, properties and fabrication), thermoplastic polymer and thermosetting resin matrices (chemistry and processing).  His specific activity on glass fiber manufacturing implied, or led to, important industrial R&D achievements, particularly in the field of specialized glass fiber coating & sizing compositions  for reinforcement of such key-plastics as polypropylene, polyamides 6 and 6,6, poly(phenylene oxide) [PPO or PPE] polymer alloys, and poly(butylene terephthalate).  This meant the design and development of aqueous dispersions of tailored polymeric film-formers/adhesion promoters and complete coating & sizing compositions for manufacturing of reinforcing glass fibers affording thermoplastic composite materials with cutting-edge characteristics (top-level tensile, flexural and impact strength, HDT, creep resistance, and best color), coating and sizing compositions adopted (currently used since mid-1980s, and still being used at present as such or with minor modifications) by one of the biggest glass fiber manufacturers worldwide, in particular for polypropylene composites.

In this ambit, a major personal Dr. Parodi's accomplishment was the development of high-performance sizing compositions for chopped strand, roving and woven-roving glass fiber products for reinforcement of unmodified and chemically modified polypropylene matrices [see -Technical Web Paper # 1-, this website].

Dr. Parodi continued his research efforts in this area at his own fpchem.com R&D facility, with further accomplishments including improvements of mechanical properties and/or color of glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene and polyamides 6 and 6,6 through novel, exactly tailored waterborne polymeric film-formers and  fiber coating & sizing formulations.

• Chemical analysis and physical characterization of glass fiber products:  glass type identification (E, C, S, SiO2, basalt & other rock glasses, etc.), and complete glass analysis;  fiber filament diameter and length distributions;  tex strength of fiber strands and yarns;  micrographic analysis of woven rovings, mats, fabrics, felts, etc.;

• Chemical analysis of sizing, coating, finishing compositions, and polymeric binders, of glass fiber products:  identification and quantification of their components;  reformulation of the original compositions used by the glass fiber manufacturers;  identification of related commercial ingredients.

• Testing & evaluation of the compatibility between glass fiber coatings and/or binders and specified polymer matrices (either thermosetting resins or plastics).

 see: -chemical analysis

fiber strength vs. fiber length

according to Weibull statistics

Technical assistance for modification, adaptation or optimization of current coating, sizing and binding compositions, related chemicals involved (waterborne polymer and resin film-formers and adhesives, coupling agents, crosslinking agents, internal and external lubricants, wetting and antistatic agents, etc.), and fiber sizing, binding & drying processes.

Design and development of custom coating, sizing or binding compositions, and/or related waterborne polymer and resin film-forming and adhesive ingredients, targeted to match specific technical and/or cost requisites.

Best coating and sizing compositions useable for manufacturing of diversified glass fiber products for reinforcement of the most important plastics and resins (polypropylene, polyamides, PBT, PPO, unsaturated polyester, vinyl-ester, epoxy and phenolic resins, etc.):  complete coating and sizing formulations, technical specifications and commercial sources of related raw materials.

1.  Coating & sizing compositions for fibers for Polypropylene [PP] reinforcement

1. For standard-performance, super-white composites:  with both PP homopolymer and modified (chemically-coupled) PP matrices;

2. For high-performance composites:  superior tensile, flexural and impact strength, HDT and creep resistance, with homo-PP matrices, and excellent general mechanical properties with chemically-coupled PP matrices, according to the best present international standards.

2.  Coating & sizing compositions for fibers for Polyamide 6 & 6,6 [PA-6 & PA-6,6] reinforcement

For standard-performance, super-white composites, according to the highest present international standards.

3.  Coating & sizing compositions for fibers for Poly(butylene terephthalate) [PBT] reinforcement

For standard-performance PBT composites, according to the best present international standards (coating & sizing compositions optionally suitable for PET and Polycarbonate reinforcement)

Original and proprietary coating and sizing compositions (and related original and proprietary polymeric film-formers/adhesion promoters) for manufacturing of exclusive glass fiber products, affording thermoplastic matrix composite materials endowed with cutting-edge characteristics (namely, superior mechanical and thermal properties, and optimal color).

1.  Sizing compositions for Polypropylene [PP] reinforcement

1. For high-performance, super-white composites:  superior tensile, flexural and impact strength, HDT and creep resistance with homo-PP matrices, and excellent general mechanical properties with chemically-coupled PP matrices;  yielding composites of unparalleled, perfectly neutral color, with both PP homopolymer and modified (chemically-coupled) PP matrices;

2. For very high-performance composites:  superior tensile, flexural and impact strength, HDT and creep resistance with both PP homopolymer and modified (chemically-coupled) PP matrices, beyond the highest current international standards.

2.  Sizing compositions for Polyamide-6 & -6,6 [PA-6 & PA-6,6] reinforcement

For novel & specialty, very high-performance composites (with unparalleled tensile and flexural strength)

3.  Specialty sizing compositions for Polysulfone [PSU] and Polyethersulfone [PES] reinforcement

4.  Specialty sizing compositions for HDPE & LLDPE Polyethylene, Poly-4-methylpentene-1 [PMP] and Polybutene-1 [PB] reinforcement

Affording novel and unique glass fiber reinforcements for high-performance composites with these light-weight and water-insensitive thermoplastic semicrystalline matrices, i.e. attractive competitors of polypropylene matching peculiar performance requirements:  outstanding tensile strength and impact resistance at low temperatures [HDPE];  exceptionally high tear strength [LLDPE];  particularly high ("nylon-like") melting point and HDT [PMP];  unique attitudes to be easily deformed (e.g. to curve pipes at will) at room temperature [PB].

Standard Optimized and Specialty Products

1.  Low-molecular-weight, maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene

1. Standard, anionic colloidal dispersions (40% wt. solids), for fiber coating & sizing compositions affording standard-performance, super-white glass fiber-reinforced PP matrix composites [MP3_00 dispersions];

2. Specialty, anionic colloidal dispersions (50% wt. solids), for fiber coating & sizing compositions affording high-performance PP matrix composites according to the highest current international standards [MP3_10 dispersions].

2.  Aliphatic & cycloaliphatic copolyurethane dispersions

Anionic colloidal dispersions and latexes, 30-40% wt. solids, for fiber coating & sizing compositions affording high-performance glass fiber-reinforced PA-6, PA-6,6 and PPO matrix composites according to the highest present international standards  [PU_10 dispersions].

Novel & Proprietary Products

1.  Special, film-forming formulates for fiber coating & sizing compositions for Polypropylene reinforcement

1. Specialty, acid-grafted and chemically-modified, low-molecular-weight-polypropylenes:  anionic colloidal dispersions (40-50% wt. solids) for high-performance, super-white glass fiber-reinforced PP matrix composites [MP3_X100 dispersions];

2. Specialty, acid-grafted and chemically-modified, medium-molecular-weight-polypropylenes:  anionic colloidal dispersions (40-50% wt. solids) for very high-performance, unique glass fiber-reinforced PP composites, with superior tensile, flexural and impact strength, HDT and creep resistance, with both PP homopolymer and modified (chemically-coupled) PP matrices, above the best present international standards. [MP3_X1000 dispersions].

2.  Aliphatic, complex multipolymeric elastomers:  anionic colloidal dispersions and latexes (35-40% wt. solids)  [PU-A10 dispersions]

Specifically designed for fiber coating & sizing compositions affording glass fiber-reinforced Polyamide 6 & 6,6 matrix composites with outstanding mechanical and thermo-mechanical characteristics, beyond the highest current international standards.

3.  Chemically-modified polyolefin formulates specifically designed for glass fiber coating & sizing compositions for HDPE & LLDPE Polyethylene, Polybutene-1 and Poly-4-methylpentene-1 reinforcement:  anionic colloidal dispersions, 40-50% wt. solids [MP2, MP4 and MP5 dispersions, respectively].

glass fibers |

fparodi@iol.it