Manville Corporation

Schuller International, Inc.

James A Fadell

Stephen E Gross

Glass microfibers having diameters of less than one micron are useful in engineered plastics to achieve very smooth surfaces and thermal stability in composite parts. As made, glass microfibers are very bulky and intertwined making it impossible to meter and feed the material using conventional equipment. The processes used for chopping and milling coarser glass fibers to prepare them for engineered plastic composites are unsatisfactory for glass microfibers for various reasons. It has been discovered that flowable glass microfiber agglomerate products can be made by processing the microfiber in a muller mill or in a self impact mill.

Method of preparing glass microfibers for use in composites and flowable

A process for producing fiberglass reinforced molded articles of superior surface quality involves preparation of a mat of glass fiber comprised of a majority of fibers having a diameter of less than one micron and a minority of fibers having a diameter greater than one micron. A sizing is applied to the fibers. The sizing includes a coupling agent preselected to be compatible with the moldable material, e.g. nylon. The glass fiber mat is comminuted into pieces shaped and dimensioned for combination with the moldable material to form a composite having a range of to 50% of glass fiber by weight. The composite is then molded by a conventional process to yield a fiberglass reinforced article with superior surface quality.

Growing community of inventors

Toledo, OH, United States of America

James A Fadell