Effect of Power Ultrasonic on the Expansion of Fiber Strands

The present study investigates the effect of power ultrasonic on the expansion of fiber strands. A potential application of such expansion is in the production process known as closed injection pultrusion. The fiber strand in the pultrusion injection chamber is in compacted form, and so, any expansion of the fiber strand resulting from power ultrasonic should lead to improved fiber wetting. To investigate this, a wetted fiber strand was clamped on two sides and sonicated in the middle from below. The potential expansion of the fiber strand was visually determined through an observation window. The study concluded that power ultrasonic has a minimal to virtually negligible effect on the expansion of both glass and carbon fiber. The degree of expansion remains within a range of 3% maximum, with a standard deviation in the respective midpoint tests of up to 60% for glass fiber and over 100% for carbon fiber. This shows that the fibers are limited in their freedom of movement, and so no expansion can be achieved using power ultrasonic. A further increase in amplitude does not lead to any further expansion but to the destruction of the fibers.