Process for production of fiber reinforced tape

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for the production of a tape comprising a plurality of sheathed continuous multifilament strands, wherein each of the sheathed continuous multifilament strands comprises a core that extends in the longitudinal direction and a polymer sheath which intimately surrounds said core, wherein each of the cores comprises an impregnated continuous multifilament strand comprising at least one continuous glass multifilament strand, wherein the at least one continuous glass multifilament strand is impregnated with an impregnating agent, wherein the process comprises the steps of: d) providing the plurality of sheathed continuous multifilament strands, e) placing the plurality of sheathed continuous multifilament strands in parallel alignment in the longitudinal direction, f) grouping the plurality of sheathed continuous multifilament strands, wherein steps e) and f) are performed such that the sheathed continuous multifilament strand can be consolidated and g) subsequently consolidating the plurality of sheathed continuous multifilament strands to form the tape, wherein the sheathed continuous multifilament strands are prepared by the sequential steps of a) unwinding from a package the continuous glass multifilament strands, b) applying the impregnating agent to the continuous glass multifilament strands to form the impregnated continuous multifilament strands and c) applying the sheath of the thermoplastic polymer composition around the impregnated continuous multifilament strands to form the sheathed continuous multifilament strands, wherein the sheathed continuous multifilament strands of step d) are the sheathed continuous multifilament strands obtained by step c) and wherein the sheathed continuous multifilament strands of step d) are subjected to step e) without cutting.