Blade geometry effects on initial dispersion of chopped glass fibers

Abstract The effects of blade geometry on the initial dispersion of chopped glass fiber bundles in polystyrene during batch mixing are investigated. Roller, banbury, cam, and sigma blades are evaluated for dispersive efficiency and differences in mechanism. Processed samples are characterized by image analysis to focus upon the initial stages of dispersion. Sigma blades are found to be the most effective blades for initial chopped glass dispersion, while banbury blades prove the least effective. Analytical treatment based on the average time for a volume to pass through high stress regions does not explain the results; chopped glass fiber dispersion does not depend solely upon passage through narrow‐gap, high‐stress regions.