Arris Composites Inc.

Allison R Light

Riley Reese

J Scott Perkins

Bert D Mannhalter

Ian Graham

Joe Wong

Eugene Joseph Gwost

An improved compression-molding process utilizes a unique assemblage of feed constituents, arranged, and aligned in a particular manner. The assemblage includes fiber-bundle preforms having a filamentous form with a typically circular or oval cross section, and having many thousands of relatively long, co-aligned, resin-impregnated fibers. The fiber-bundle preforms are formed to have an application-appropriate length and optionally shape. The assemblage further includes very-short-fiber constituents have a filamentous form and consisting of very short, typically non-aligned, resin-impregnated fibers. Although consisting of very short fibers, the very-short-fiber constituent may nevertheless be similar in length and cross section to the FB preforms to facilitate handling, registration with a mold cavity, and the like. In some embodiments, some of the very-short-fiber constituents are positioned in the assemblage proximal to expected locations of respective parting lines on the fiber-composite part to be molded. In some embodiments, the long axis of those very-short-fiber constituents is substantially parallel to the respective parting lines.

Method and article for an improved compression-molding process

A cosmetic part is formed via compression molding in a single molding operation with no post processing by forming an assemblage of feed constituents, wherein the assemblage includes plural fiber-bundle-based preforms and one or more resin-only constituents, the latter configured and positioned as appropriate to create resin-rich cosmetic layers where desired on the part.

Method for compression molding cosmetic composite parts

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Orinda, CA, United States of America

Allison R Light