Development of guide rollers using electroplated carbon fiber-epoxy composite for thin polymer film processing

Since thin polymer films can not sustain the large tension generated from the rotational inertia of a guide roller during start and stop periods of film processing and can be easily damaged by the rough surface of the guide roller, the guide roller should have low rotational inertia, low friction coefficient, high bending stiffness and fine surfaces. The carbon fiber-epoxy composite material electroplated with chromium has excellent properties for the structure of the guide roller due to its high specific modulus and high damping, which reduces induced vibrations. In this paper, the design and manufacturing methods as well as the static, dynamic and frictional characteristics of the carbon fiber-epoxy composite rollers electroplated with chromium were investigated using analytical and experimental methods to improve the performance of the high speed guide roller. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.