Method of making fiber reinforced porous sheets
US5194106A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 10, 1992 |
| Grant date | Mar 16, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 10, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/24826
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method of preparing porous fiber reinforced polymer composite sheets has been developed to allow a more efficient preheating of the sheel prior to molding and includes the steps of blending reinforcing fibers with resin matrix forming fibers to form a web. This web is then heated to a temperature wherein the resin matrix forming fibers melt and envelope the reinforcing fibers, tacking them together at crossover points. The resultant web can then be directly heated very efficiently for molding. This web is highly porous allowing rapid heating at moderate pressure differentials during subsequent preheat steps. The microstructure created when the resin matrix forming fibers are initially melted further enhances heating capability because the structure retains porosity during the subsequent heating step required for molding. Because the resin matrix forming fibers initially were uniformly blended, a highly uniform distribution of polymeric material within the reinforcing fiber matrix yields molded parts with very uniform properties.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.