Nanoparticle pultrusion processing aide
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsKristin L. Thunhorst, Emily S. Goenner
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Abstract
The use of nanoparticles, including surface-modified silica and calcite nanoparticles, as processing aides for pultrusion is described. The methods include combining a resin system containing a resin and the nanoparticles with continuous fibers, pultruding this combination, and at least partially curing the resin. The methods are suitable for use with a wide variety of resins and fibers, and may be used to reduce the pull-force at a fixed fiber volume loading, increase the fiber volume loading, or both. Pultruded parts made by these methods and pultruded parts with high volume loadings of fibers are also described.
Claims28
A method of forming a fiber reinforced polymer composite comprising impregnating continuous fibers with a resin system comprising a liquid resin and nanoparticles, pulling the resin-impregnated fibers through a die, and at least partially solidifying the resin system in the die.
A pultruded fiber reinforced polymer composite comprising continuous fibers imbedded in a resin system comprising a cured resin and nanoparticles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.