초록 ▼

A composite with a thermoplastic matrix and fiber reinforcement is made by rotation of an exit die about a roving of continuous fiber in the presence of a thermoplastic melt. The rotation causes opposing inner and outer helical flow conditions which reduce the melt viscosity of the polymer by shear

A composite with a thermoplastic matrix and fiber reinforcement is made by rotation of an exit die about a roving of continuous fiber in the presence of a thermoplastic melt. The rotation causes opposing inner and outer helical flow conditions which reduce the melt viscosity of the polymer by shear thinning while dragging and directing the polymer into the fiber roving thereby wetting and dispersing the fiber. A composite structure is formed with a polymer rich skin and a core region of unidirectionally aligned polymer and fiber. The polymeric skin is composed of helically aligned polymer chains which are coiled by the rotation around the core to compress the core region and enhance fiber wet out.

대표청구항 ▼

[ That which is claimed is:] [1.]1. A fiber reinforced thermoplastic material comprising a core region including a plurality of unidirectionally aligned fibers which are substantially fully impregnated with a thermoplastic polymer and a skin region including the thermoplastic polymer which is substa

[ That which is claimed is:] [1.]1. A fiber reinforced thermoplastic material comprising a core region including a plurality of unidirectionally aligned fibers which are substantially fully impregnated with a thermoplastic polymer and a skin region including the thermoplastic polymer which is substantially free of said fibers, the polymer chains in said core region being substantially aligned with said fibers and the polymer chains in said skin region being substantially helically arranged about said core region.