Simulation and Prediction of the Orientation of Short Fibers in Polypropylene Matrix Using Imaging Techniques

The Polypropylene polymer mixed with curved fibers was injected into a rectangular mold to enhance its thermoplastic properties. This study investigates the effects of fiber orientation on the mechanical properties of the polymer composite. The orientation of short fibers within the polymer matrix was predicted using an image processing method. This method is based on determining the ellipses' orientation and size of fibers from scanned images. The results were validated using ImageJ, confirming the accuracy of the fiber orientation predictions. These findings are crucial for optimizing the mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced thermoplastics.