US 11,214,894 B2 · Process of debundling carbon fiber tow and molding compositions containing such fibers

Abstract

A process for debundling a carbon fiber tow into dispersed chopped carbon fibers suitable for usage in molding composition formulations is provided. A carbon fiber tow is fed into a die having fluid flow openings, through which a fluid impinges upon the side of the tow to expand the tow cross sectional area. The expanded cross sectional area tow extends from the die into the path of a conventional fiber chopping apparatus to form chopped carbon fibers, or through contacting tines of a mechanical debundler. Through adjustment of the relative position of fluid flow openings relative to a die bore through which fiber tow passes, the nature of the fluid impinging on the tow, the shape of the bore, in combinations thereof, an improved chopped carbon fiber dispersion is achieved. The chopped carbon fiber obtained is then available to be dispersed in molding composition formulations prior to formulation cure.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A process for debundling carbon fiber tow into chopped carbon fibers comprising:

feeding the carbon fiber tow defined by a bundle cross sectional area and a tow surface into a die having a bore, the die having an entrance opening, at least two fluid flow openings and a separate exit opening in a terminal face of the die, where the bore is sized larger than the bundle cross sectional area with the proviso that if the at least two fluid flow openings are two openings, that the two openings are not diametrically positioned through a circular cross sectional bore, and where the carbon fiber tow moves linearly through the die from the entrance opening to the exit opening;
impinging on the carbon fiber tow within the bore through a first opening of the at least two fluid flow openings with a fluid at a flow rate to expand carbon fiber tow to an expanded cross sectional area greater than the bundle cross sectional area within said bore;
exiting the expanded cross sectional area carbon fiber tow from the exit opening in the terminal die face of the die;
and
chopping the expanded cross sectional area carbon fiber tow upon exiting said die to form the chopped carbon fiber.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Process of debundling carbon fiber tow and molding compositions containing such fibers

Life of this patent

Process of debundling carbon fiber tow and molding compositions containing such fibers

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19