초록 ▼

A process for impregnating a glass fiber mat with a resin, and for producing composite structures having impregnated glass fibers, is provided which substantially reduces the number of voids in the resulting structure, provides fast and efficient heating of the materials, and requires low capital co

A process for impregnating a glass fiber mat with a resin, and for producing composite structures having impregnated glass fibers, is provided which substantially reduces the number of voids in the resulting structure, provides fast and efficient heating of the materials, and requires low capital cost equipment to perform the process. The process includes heating a glass fiber mat and an RF-sensitive resin in a radio frequency electromagntic field to quickly heat the mat and resin, the resin flowing into voids in the glass fiber mat, thereby impregnating the mat; forming the resulting composite structure into a desired end shape; and cooling the structure. Reduction in the number of voids is advantageously accomplished by impregnating the resin into the mat under vacuum, which removes air and decomposition products which result from the RF heating of the resin. Impregnation, molding of the shape, and cooling of the structure may all be performed in a mold if desired, and elongated profiled parts may be continuously produced from elongated sheet stock by passing the heated structure through roll forming dies.

대표청구항 ▼

A process for forming a glass fiber composite, comprising the steps of: disposing a resin susceptible of being heated in a radio frequency electromagnetic filed in contact with a glass fiber mat; sealing the resin and the glass fiber mat within a film which has a glass transition temperature and a m

A process for forming a glass fiber composite, comprising the steps of: disposing a resin susceptible of being heated in a radio frequency electromagnetic filed in contact with a glass fiber mat; sealing the resin and the glass fiber mat within a film which has a glass transition temperature and a melting point higher than the resin; removing air form a space within the film to create a vacuum condition in said space; and exposing the resin and glass fiber mat to a radio frequency electromagnetic field for a predetermined period of time sufficient to heat the resin to its melting or glass transition temperature wherein the glass fiber mat is impregnated with the resin.