Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A process of producing a fibre-reinforced composition comprising drawing a plurality of continuous filaments through a melt comprising a mixture of a thermoplastic polymer and a plasticiser for the polymer in the weight ratio between 1:4 and 99:1 of polymer to plasticiser, the plasticiser being thermally stable at least up to the temperature of the melt and having volatility characteristics such that the plasticiser is not substantially volatilised from the composition below the melt temperature of the composition, said plasticiser reducing the viscosity of the melt in comparsion with that of the polymer alone.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
A process of producing a fibre-reinforced composition comprising drawing a plurality of continuous filaments through a melt comprising a mixture of a thermoplastic polymer and a plasticiser for the polymer in the weight ratio between 1:4 and 99:1 of polymer to plasticiser, the plasticiser being thermally stable at least up to the temperature of the melt and having volatility characteristics such that the plasticiser is not substantially volatilised from the composition below the melt temperature of the composition, said plasticiser reducing the viscosity of the melt in comparsion with that of the polymer alone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the melt viscosity of the polymer in the absence of the plasticiser is at least 100 Ns/m 2 at zero shear rate measured below the decomposition temperature of the polymer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process according to either of claim 1 or claim 2 in which the polymer/plasticiser melt is contained within a melt bath provided with at least one spreader surface over which the plurality of filaments are pulled.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
93 words
A process according to either of claims 1 or 2 in which the plurality of continuous filaments is formed into a band of contiguous filaments which are pulled over a spreader surface to form a nip between the band and the spreader surface and a molten mixture of polymer and plasticiser is provided at the nip, impregnation of the band formed by the contiguous filaments being effected by tensioning the continuous band so that positive pressure is applied on the polymer melt by the band as it is pulled over the spreader surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process according to claim 4 in which the polymer melt is maintained in a molten state during impregnation by supplying at least part of the heat required to at least one spreader surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process according to claim 4 in which the polymer melt is maintained in a molten state during impregnation by supplying at least part of the heat required directly to the filaments.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
A process according to any one of the preceding claims in which the thermoplastic polymer is an aromatic polymer and comprises a polymer of repeat unit of the general formula: -Ar-X-where Ar is selected from mono or polycyclic aromatic radicals and X is selected from at least one of 0, S, 50 2 , O.CO, O.CO.O, CO, -NHCO- and
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process according to claim 7 in which the aromatic polymer is selected from polysulphones, polyethersulphones, polyetherketones, polyetheretherketones, polyarylene oxides, polyarylene sulphides, aromatic polyamides, aromatic polyesters, aromatic polycarbonates, and aromatic polyetherimides.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process according to any one of the preceding claims in which the polymer is a polyetherketone or polyetheretherketone and the plasticiser is an aromatic sulphone or aromatic ketone.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
A fibre-reinforced structure produced according to the process of any one of the preceding claims.