Pre-treated cellulosic materials for producing molded composite articles therefrom and process
AssigneeClemson University
InventorDavid N.-S. Hon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composition for producing composite structural members and a method for making same is provided. The composition is made by combining a thermoplastic resin with pre-treated high moisture cellulosic materials, such as discarded newspaper, having lignin contained therein. Moisture treatment of the cellulosic materials exhibit improvements over composites using dry cellulosic materials. The composite composition may then be extruded or compression molded into various articles of manufacture.
Claims32
A composition for production of composite materials comprising a thermoplastic resin, cellulosic materials that have been pre-treated with water such that said cellulosic materials have an initial moisture content of at least about 30 percent by weight, and lignin, said lignin being present in an amount sufficient to cause said thermoplastic resin and said cellulosic materials to form a coherent structural composite.
A composition for producing composite materials consisting essentially of thermoplastic resin and high moisture cellulosic material wherein said cellulosic material comprises newsprint pre-treated with water, wherein said newsprint has an initial moisture content of at least about 30 percent.
A method of preparing a composition for use in a structural composite consisting essentially of the steps of:
- providing pre-treated cellulosic materials that have an initial moisture content of at least about 30 percent by weight;
- providing a molten matrix of thermoplastic resin;
- adding said cellulosic materials to said molten matrix of thermoplastic resin and producing a generally homogeneous mixture thereof, said mixture further comprising a sufficient amount of lignin to cause said thermoplastic resin and said cellulosic materials to form a coherent mass.
A method of preparing a composition comprising the steps of:
- providing pre-treated lignocellulosic materials, said materials having an initial moisture content of from about 30 percent to about 200 percent by weight;
- providing molten thermoplastic resin;
- combining said materials with said molten matrix so that a substantially homogeneous mixture is formed;
- and
- forming said homogeneous mixture into a structural composite.
A method of preparing a composition for use in producing a composite comprising the steps of combining from about 40 to about 90 weight percent thermoplastic resin with from about 10 percent to about 60 percent by weight lignocellulosic materials, wherein said lignocellulosic materials have been pre-treated with water such that said lignocellulosic materials have an initial moisture content of at least about 30 percent by weight, at about 165.degree. to about 175.degree. C. for a period of about 40 minutes to fashion a substantially homogeneous mixture capable of being formed into a coherent composite, said materials having been obtained from presoaked newsprint.
A molded article of manufacture formed from a composition consisting essentially of a thermoplastic resin, cellulosic materials, wherein said cellulosic materials have been pre-treated with water such that said cellulosic materials have an initial moisture content of at least about 30 percent by weight, and lignin.
A method of preparing a composition for use in forming articles of manufacture comprising the steps of:
- immersing a cellulosic material containing lignin in water to condition said materials and obtain pre-treated fibers having an initial moisture content of from about 30 percent to about 200 percent by weight;
- providing a thermoplastic resin in a molten state;
- and
- combining said material with said thermoplastic resin to form a substantially homogeneous mixture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.