Imperial Chemical Industries Limited

Peter J Williams

Frederic N Cogswell

David J Hezzell

Fibre-reinforced structures comprising a thermoplastics polymer and containing at least 30% by volume of reinforcing filaments extending longitudinally of the structure which have been produced in a continuous process and which have exceptionally high stiffness. The exceptionally high stiffness results from thorough wetting of the reinforcing filaments by molten polymer in the continuous process. The thorough wetting gives rise to a product which can be further processed even in vigorous mixing processes such as injection moulding with surprisingly high retention of the fibre length in the fabricated article. The continuous processes for producing the reinforced structures employ thermoplastics polymers having lower melt viscosities than conventionally considered suitable for achieving satisfactory physical properties.

Fibre-reinforced compositions and methods for producing such compositions

Fiber-reinforced structures comprising a thermoplastics polymer and containing at least 30% by volume of reinforcing filaments extending longitudinally of the structure which have been produced in a continuous process and which have exceptionally high stiffness. The exceptionally high stiffness results from thorough wetting of the reinforcing filaments by molten polymer in the continuous process. The thorough wetting gives rise to a product which can be further processed even in vigorous mixing processes such as injection moulding with surprisingly high retention of the fiber length in the fabricated article. The continuous processes for producing the reinforced structures employ thermoplastics polymers having lower melt viscosities than conventionally considered suitable for achieving satisfactory physical properties.

Fiber reinforced compositions and method of producing such compositions

Fibre-reinforced structures comprising a thermoplastics polymer and containing at least 30% by volume of reinforcing filaments extending longitudinally of the structure which have been produced in a continuous process and which have exceptionally high stiffness. The exceptionally high stiffness resluts from thorough wetting of the reinforcing filaments by molten polymer in the continuous process. The thorough wetting gives rise to a product which can be further processed even in vigorous mixing processes such as injection moulding with surprisingly high retention of the fibre length in the fabricated article. The continuous processes for producing the reinforced structures employ thermoplastics polymers having lower melt viscosities than conventionally considered suitable for achieving satisfactory physical properties.

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Barton-le-Clay, United Kingdom

Peter J Williams