Ppg Industries Ohio, Inc.

Roger E Mulder

Harri Dittmar

Charles W Peterson

The present invention provides a mat having at least one primary area and at least one secondary area and adapted to reinforce a polymeric matrix material, the mat comprising (a) a first layer comprising a plurality of generally parallel, essentially continuous glass fiber strands oriented generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the mat, at least a portion of outer surfaces of the first layer glass fiber strands having applied thereon at least a partial layer comprising at least a partially dried residue of first coating composition which is compatible with a polymeric matrix material, wherein at least a first portion of the first layer glass fiber strands are positioned within the at least one primary area at a primary strand density and at least a second portion of the first layer glass fiber strands are positioned within the at least one secondary area at a secondary strand density which is different from the primary strand density; and (b) a second layer comprising a plurality of randomly oriented glass fiber strands positioned within the at least one primary area and the at least one secondary area and adjacent to a surface of the first layer, at least a portion of outer surfaces of the second layer glass fiber strands having applied thereon at least a partial layer comprising at least a partially dried residue of a second coating composition which is compatible with the polymeric matrix material, wherein the first and second layers are joined to hold the mat together.

Glass fiber mats, laminates reinforced with the same and methods for making the same

A method for making a mat adapted to reinforce a polymeric matrix material, the method including the steps of (a) positioning a plurality of generally parallel, essentially continuous glass fiber strands oriented generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the mat to form a first layer, at least a portion of outer surfaces of the first layer glass fiber strands having applied thereon at least a partial layer having at least a partially dried residue of a first coating composition which is compatible with a polymeric matrix material, wherein at least a first portion of the first layer glass fiber strands are positioned within an at least one primary area at a primary strand density and at least a second portion of the first layer glass fiber strands are positioned within an at least one secondary area at a secondary strand density which is different from the primary strand density; (b) dispersing a plurality of randomly oriented glass fiber strands within the at least one primary area and the at least one secondary area and adjacent to a surface of the first layer to form a second layer, at least a portion of outer surfaces of the second layer glass fiber strands having applied thereon at least a partial layer having at least a partially dried residue of a second coating composition which is compatible with the polymeric matrix material; and (c) joining the first and second layers to hold the mat together.

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Groningen, Netherlands

Roger E Mulder