Polymer Composite Containing Recycled Carbon Fibers
AssigneeCelanese Sales Germany GmbH
InventorsDirk Zierer, Patrick Nickolay, Tim Feuerstack
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Abstract
A polymer composition is described well suited for being combined with relatively short fibers. The fibers, for instance, can have a mean fiber length of less than 1,000 microns, such as less than 700 microns, such as less than 500 microns. The polymer formulation allows for intimate mixing with the fibers without having to use a sizing agent. In one embodiment, the composition contains a polybutylene terephthalate polymer combined with a thermoplastic polymer having lower crystallinity.
Claims24
A reinforced polymer composition comprising:
- a first polyester polymer;
- a second polyester polymer blended with the first polyester polymer, the second polyester polymer being less crystalline than the first polyester polymer, the second polyester polymer being present in the polymer composition in an amount from about 2% by weight to about 35% by weight;
- and
- carbon fibers combined with the first and second polyester polymers, the carbon fibers being present in the polymer composition in an amount from about 5% by weight to about 50% by weight, and wherein the carbon fibers have a mean fiber length of from about 10 microns to about 1,000 microns.
A reinforced polymer composition comprising:
- a polyester polymer comprising a polybutylene terephthalate polymer;
- a fatty acid ester blended with the polyester polymer;
- a nucleant blended with the polyester polymer;
- a heat stabilizing agent and an antioxidant blended with the polyester polymer;
- and
- carbon fibers combined with the polyester polymer, the carbon fibers being present in the polymer composition in an amount from about 5% to about 50% by weight, the carbon fibers having a mean fiber length of from about 50 microns to about 500 microns.
A housing comprising:
- a molded polymer article defining a casing for enclosing an adjacent structure, the molded polymer article being made from a polymer composition comprising a first polyester polymer comprising polybutylene terephthalate and a second polyester polymer that is less crystalline than the first polyester polymer blended with the carbon fibers, the carbon fibers having a mean fiber length of from about 10 microns to about 1,000 microns, the polymer composition having a tensile strength of greater than 110 MPa, having a tensile modulus of greater than about 12,000 MPa, and having an elongation at break of greater than about 2%.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.