Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A reinforced composite structure comprising parallel, aligned continuous filaments extending along the maximum dimension of the structure, said fibres being bonded together with a thermoformable matrix polymer which intimately contacts substantially the whole of the surface of the filaments characterised in that the reinforcement of the structure comprises at least 30% by volume of filamentary reinforcing material and from 1% up to 30% by volume of particulate filler.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
68 words
A reinforced composite structure comprising parallel, aligned continuous filaments extending along the maximum dimension of the structure, said fibres being bonded together with a thermoformable matrix polymer which intimately contacts substantially the whole of the surface of the filaments characterised in that the reinforcement of the structure comprises at least 30% by volume of filamentary reinforcing material and from 1% up to 30% by volume of particulate filler.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A reinforced composite structure according to claim 1 wherein the concentration of particulate filler is between 5 and 15% by volume.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A reinforced composite according to either of claims 1 or 2 in which the particulate filler is selected from talc, mica, wollastinite, metal powders and graphite.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A reinforced composite according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the reinforcing fibre is selected from glass, carbon and high modulus synthetic polymer fibres.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
107 words
A process of producing a reinforced' thermoplastic polymer composite structure containing at least 30% by volume of continuous reinforcing filaments comprising introducing a plurality of continuous filaments into a polymer melt characterised in that the melt comprises a mixture of a thermoplastic polymer, a particulate filler and a plasticiser for the polymer in the weight ratio between 1:4 and 99:1 of polymer to plasticiser, cooling the impregnated structure and optionally removing the plasticiser before or after the cooling step, the plasticiser being thermally stable at least up to the temperature of the melt wherein the volumetric concentration of the particulate filler is from . 1 to 30%.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
107 words
A process of producing a reinforced' thermoplastic polymer composite structure containing at least 30% by volume of continuous reinforcing filaments comprising introducing a plurality of continuous filaments into a polymer melt characterised in that the melt comprises a mixture of a thermoplastic polymer, a particulate filler and a plasticiser for the polymer in the weight ratio between 1:4 and 99:1 of polymer to plasticiser, cooling the impregnated structure and optionally removing the plasticiser before or after the cooling step, the plasticiser being thermally stable at least up to the temperature of the melt wherein the volumetric concentration of the particulate filler is from . 1 to 30%.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process according to claim 5 wherein the plasticiser is volatilised at a temperature at which the polymer is molten, after the continuous filaments have been introduced into the plasticised polymer melt.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process according to either of claims 5 or 6 in which the weight ratio of polymer to plasticiser is in the range 1:3 to 19:1.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process according to any one of claims 5 to 7 in which the thermoformable polymer is a tough thermoplastic having a tensile yield stress of at least 70 MN/m 2 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
A process according to any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the thermoformable polymer has a tensile yield strength of less than 70 MN/m 2 prior to the impregnation stage but is treated so as to increase the tensile yield stress to greater than 70 MN/m 2 after the impregnation stage.