Discontinuous cellulose fiber treated with plastic polymer and lubricant

The process which comprises subjecting to shearing forces, a mixture of discontinuous cellulose fiber of aspect ratio greater than one, organic polymer, which can be processed as a thermoplastic substance, in amount sufficient to reduce fiber-to-fiber affinity up to 50 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of fiber and lubricant, said lubricant being an oily or unctuous organic material of molecular weight greater than 95 characterized by being adsorbable to the fiber surface and enhancing receptiveness of the fiber to said polymer in amount sufficient to enhance receptiveness of the fiber to the polymer and separation of individual fibers.

The process of preparing fiber reinforced plastic polymer which comprises (1) preparing a concentrate by subjecting to shearing forces a mixture of short unregenerated cellulose fiber of aspect ratio greater than one, organic polymer, which can be processed as a thermoplastic substance, in amounts up to 50 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of fiber sufficient to reduce fiber-to-fiber affinity and lubricant, said lubricant being an oily or unctuous organic material of molecular weight greater than 95 characterized by being adsorbable to the fiber surface and enhancing receptiveness of the fiber to said polymer, in amount sufficient to enhance receptiveness of the fiber to the polymer and separation of individual fibers and (2) mixing the concentrate with polymer compatible with the concentrate.

A treated fiber comprising wood pulp of aspect ratio greater than one, vinyl chloride polymer or copolymer composed predominately of polyvinyl chloride in amounts sufficient to reduce fiber-to-fiber affinity up to 50 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the fiber, and fiber lubricant, said lubricant being an oily or unctuous organic material characterized by being adsorbable to the fiber surface, enhancing receptiveness of the fiber to said polymer or copolymer and a plasticizer for the polymer or copolymer, in amount which enhances receptiveness of the fiber to the polymer or copolymer and separation of individual fiber.