US4818318A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of forming composite fiber blends
Assignee: Cytec Technology Corp
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Filing: 1986-04-28
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Granted: 1989-04-04
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Expires: 2006-04-28
Abstract
Abstract The instant invention involves a process used in preparing fibrous tows which may be formed into polymeric plastic composites. The process involves the steps of (a) forming a tow of strong filamentary materials; (b) forming a thermoplastic polymeric fiber; (c) intermixing the two tows; and (d) withdrawing the intermixed tow for further use.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul E. McMahon
- 👤 Tai-Shung Chung
- 👤 Lincoln Ying
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 14:33
CPC Classifications
D; D02; D02G; D02G3/00; D02G3/44; D02G3/447; D02G3/22; D02G3/40; D02G3/402
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A process for preparing a continuous, substantially uniform tow useful in forming composite molded articles which comprises: (a) forming a continuous tow of continuous non-thermoplastic reinforcing fibers; (b) forming a continuous tow of continuous thermoplastic polymer fibers having a melting point of at least about 50° C.; (c) uniformly and continuously spreading the thermoplastic polymer fiber tow to a selected width; (d) uniformly and continuously spreading the non-thermoplastic reinforcing fiber tow to a width that is essentially the same as the selected width for the thermoplastic polymer fiber tow; (e) intimately, uniformly and continuously intermixing the spread non-thermoplastic reinforcing fiber tow and the spread thermoplastic polymer fiber tow in a relatively tension-free state by employing a gas intermixing means which directs a generally perpendicular gas flow onto the fibers and by bringing the tows into simultaneous contact with each other in substantially the same area such that there is provided a substantially uniform distribution of the thermoplastic fibers and the non-thermoplastic reinforcing fibers within an intimately intermixed tow; and (f) continuously withdrawing the intimately intermixed tow.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
A process for preparing a continuous, substantially uniform tow useful in forming composite molded articles which comprises: (a) forming a continuous tow of continuous non-thermoplastic reinforcing fibers; (b) forming a continuous tow of continuous thermoplastic polymer fibers having a melting point of at least about 50° C.; (c) uniformly and continuously spreading the thermoplastic polymer fiber tow to a selected width; (d) uniformly and continuously spreading the non-thermoplastic reinforcing fiber tow to a width that is essentially the same as the selected width for the thermoplastic polymer fiber tow; (e) intimately, uniformly and continuously intermixing the spread non-thermoplastic reinforcing fiber tow and the spread thermoplastic polymer fiber tow in a relatively tension-free state by employing a gas intermixing means which directs a generally perpendicular gas flow onto the fibers and by bringing the tows into simultaneous contact with each other in substantially the same area such that there is provided a substantially uniform distribution of the thermoplastic fibers and the non-thermoplastic reinforcing fibers within an intimately intermixed tow; and (f) continuously withdrawing the intimately intermixed tow.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
175 words
A process for preparing a continuous, substantially uniform tow useful in forming composite molded articles which comprises: (a) forming a continuous tow of continuous non-thermoplastic reinforcing fibers; (b) forming a continuous tow of continuous thermoplastic polymer fibers having a melting point of at least about 50° C.; (c) uniformly and continuously spreading the thermoplastic polymer fiber tow to a selected width; (d) uniformly and continuously spreading the non-thermoplastic reinforcing fiber tow to a width that is essentially the same as the selected width for the thermoplastic polymer fiber tow; (e) intimately, uniformly and continuously intermixing the spread non-thermoplastic reinforcing fiber tow and the spread thermoplastic polymer fiber tow in a relatively tension-free state by employing a gas box which directs a generally perpendicular gas flow onto the fibers and by bringing the tows into simultaneous contact with each other in substantially the same area such that there is provided a substantially uniform distribution of the thermoplastic fibers and the non-thermoplastic reinforcing fibers within an intimately intermixed tow; and (f) continuously withdrawing the intimately intermixed tow.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
175 words
A process for preparing a continuous, substantially uniform tow useful in forming composite molded articles which comprises: (a) forming a continuous tow of continuous non-thermoplastic reinforcing fibers; (b) forming a continuous tow of continuous thermoplastic polymer fibers having a melting point of at least about 50° C.; (c) uniformly and continuously spreading the thermoplastic polymer fiber tow to a selected width; (d) uniformly and continuously spreading the non-thermoplastic reinforcing fiber tow to a width that is essentially the same as the selected width for the thermoplastic polymer fiber tow; (e) intimately, uniformly and continuously intermixing the spread non-thermoplastic reinforcing fiber tow and the spread thermoplastic polymer fiber tow in a relatively tension-free state by employing a gas box which directs a generally perpendicular gas flow onto the fibers and by bringing the tows into simultaneous contact with each other in substantially the same area such that there is provided a substantially uniform distribution of the thermoplastic fibers and the non-thermoplastic reinforcing fibers within an intimately intermixed tow; and (f) continuously withdrawing the intimately intermixed tow.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claims 1 or 2 wherein the non-thermoplastic reinforcing fibers are formed from the group consisting of metallic, ceramic, amorphous, and polycrystalline fibers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 3 wherein the non-thermoplastic reinforcing fibers are formed from glass, boron, aramid or ceramic fibers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claims 1 or 2 wherein the tow of reinforcing fibers has a bundle denier of about 100 to 100,000.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claims 1 or 2 wherein the tow of reinforcing fibers has a bundle denier of about 1,000 to 16,000.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claims 1 or 2 wherein the tow of reinforcing fibers contains about 100 to 300,000 filaments.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claims 1 or 2 wherein the tow of reinforcing fibers contains about 3,000 to 24,000 filaments.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of claims 1 or 2 wherein the thermoplastic polymer fibers are selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyesters, nylons, polyamidimides, polyetherimides, polysulfones, polyether ether ketones and wholly aromatic polyester resins.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claims 1 or 2 wherein the thermoplastic polymer fibers are liquid crystal polymer fibers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claims 1 or 2 wherein the thermoplastic polymer fibers are wholly aromatic polyester fibers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The process of claims 1 or 2 wherein the denier of the individual thermoplastic fibers is in the range of about 1 to about 50 and wherein the tow of thermoplastic fibers contains from about 10 to about 150,00 filaments.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claims 1 or 2 wherein the intimately intermixed tow contains about 10 to about 70 percent by volume of non-thermoplastic reinforcing fibers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the intimately intermixed tow contains about 20 to about 60 percent by volume of non-thermoplastic reinforcing fibers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 14 wherein the intimately intermixed tow contains about 60 percent by volume of non-thermoplastic reinforcing fibers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
63 words
The process of claims 1 or 2 wherein the intermixed tow contains about 10 to about 70 percent by volume of non-thermoplastic reinforcing fibers selected from the group consisting of glass, boron and ceramic fibers and wherein the thermoplastic polymer fibers are selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyesters, nylons, polyamidimides, polyetherimides, polysulfones, polyether ether ketones and wholly aromatic polyester resins.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-04-03 | 1992-10-03 | 1993-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-04-03 | 1996-10-03 | 1997-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-04-03 | 2000-10-03 | 2001-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |