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US 4,799,985 AGranted
Method of forming composite fiber blends and molding same
AssigneeHoechst Celanese Corporation
InventorsPaul E. McMahon, Tai-Shung Chung
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The instant invention involves a process used in preparing fibrous tows which may be formed into polymeric plastic composites. The process involves the steps of (a) forming a tow of strong filamentary materials; (b) forming a thermoplastic polymeric fiber; (c) intermixing the two tows; and (d) withdrawing the intermixed tow for further use.
Claims19
A process for preparing a composite article which comprises:
- (a) forming a continuous tow of continuous non-thermoplastic reinforcing fibers;
- (b) forming a continuous tow of continuous thermoplastic polymer fibers having a melting point of at least about 50.degree. C.;
- (c) uniformly and continuously spreading the thermoplastic polymer fiber tow to a selected width;
- (d) uniformly and continuously spreading the non-thermoplastic reinforcing fiber tow to a width that is essentially the same as the selected width for the thermoplastic polymer fiber tow;
- (e) intimately, uniformly and continuously intermixing the spread non-thermoplastic reinforcing fiber tow and the spread thermoplastic polymer fiber tow in a relatively tension-free state by employing a gas intermixing means which directs a generally perpendicular gas flow onto the fibers and by bringing the tows into simultaneous contact with each other in substantially the same area such that there is provided a substantially uniform distribution of the thermoplastic fibers and the non-thermoplastic reinforcing fibers within an intimately intermixed tow;
- (f) continuously withdrawing the intimately intermixed tow;
- (g) applying the intimately intermixed tow to a mold;
- and
- (h) heating the intermixed tow to a temperature above the melting point of the thermoplastic fibers.
6 more elements
A process for preparing a composite article which comprises:
- (a) forming a continuous tow of continuous non-thermoplastic reinforcing fibers;
- (b) forming a continuous tow of continuous thermoplastic polymer fibers having a melting point of at least about 50.degree. C.;
- (c) uniformly and continuously spreading the thermoplastic polymer fiber tow to a selected width;
- (d) uniformly and continuously spreading the non-thermoplastic reinforcing fiber tow to a width that is essentially the same as the selected width for the thermoplastic polymer fiber tow;
- (e) intimately, uniformly and continuously intermixing the spread non-thermoplastic reinforcing fiber tow and the spread thermoplastic polymer fiber tow in a relatively tension-free state by employing a gas box which directs a generally perpendicular gas flow onto the fibers and by bringing the tows into simultaneous contact with each other in substantially the same area such that there is provided a substantially uniform distribution of the thermoplastic fibers and the non-thermoplastic reinforcing fibers within an intimately intermixed tow;
- (f) continuously withdrawing the intimately intermixed tow;
- (g) applying the intimately intermixed tow to a mold;
- and
- (h) heating the intermixed tow to a temperature above the melting point of the thermoplastic fibers.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.