Contact drying of fibers to form composite strands

US5626643A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Owens-Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Andrew B. Woodside · Pickerington, US
• James V. Gauchel · Newark, US
• Larry J. Huey · North Augusta, US
• David Shipp · Newark, US
• Frank J. Macdonald · Granville, US
• Peggy M. Woodside · Pickerington, US
• Douglas B. Mann · Statesboro, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 26, 1994
• Grant date: May 6, 1997
• Expiry date: Sep 26, 2014

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S65/90
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for producing composite strands. The apparatus comprises a heated bushing for supplying streams of molten glass to be drawn into continuous first fibers; a drawing device adapted to draw the streams into the first fibers; supply equipment for supplying one or more second fibers of a second material; one or more applicators for applying a size to the first and second fibers; and a device for gathering the first and second fibers into one or more composite strands. The composite stands are made by drawing glass fibers from the bushing; applying sizing to the glass fibers and the second fibers; contacting the fibers with a heated contact plate to dry the fibers; and then commingling the fibers to form one or more composite strands.