Resin and wood fiber composite profile extrusion method
AssigneeAndersen Corporation
InventorGiuseppe Puppin
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method for forming a composition comprising a thermoplastic composite in the form of a linear profile extrudate. Such a profile comprises a structural member having improved tensile strength, flex modulus, impact resistance and other improved structural properties. The invention involves a unique extruder configuration having a change in direction for the resin and fiber that optimizes the composite strength by promoting the random orientation of the fibers resulting in improved structural properties. Further, because of the change in direction, the extruder can include a cooling feature that cools the profile interior as the profile leaves the exit die thus increasing the physical properties, productivity and quality of the product.
Claims14
A method of making a profile by extruding a resin and fiber thermoplastic composite composition, to maintain a random fiber orientation, which method comprises:
- (a) introducing a thermoplastic composite comprising a thermoplastic matrix and a randomly distributed fiber into an extruder equipped with an exit die having a desired profile shape;
- (b) causing the resin and fiber to follow a flow path, from the extruder to the die, the path including a change in direction greater than 75.degree. prior to exiting the exit die wherein the distance from the change in direction to the exit of the exit die is less than 10 centimeters to form a thermoplastic profile;
- and
- (c) cooling the interior of the profile with a coolant supplied by cooling means in the exit die.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.