Claims
- 1. A continuous, linearly intermixed fiber tow useful in forming composite molded articles which comprises an intimately, uniformly and continuously intermixed blend of about 90 to about 30% by volume, based on the total fiber content, of spun, continuous, individual, thermoplastic polymer fibers having a melting point of at least about 50.degree. C. and about 10 to about 70% by volume, based on the total fiber content, of continuous, individual, carbon fibers wherein there is a substantially uniform distribution of the thermoplastic fibers and the carbon fibers within the intermixed tow.
- 2. The linearly intermixed tow of claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic fibers are present in an amount from about 80 percent by weight to about 40 percent by weight based upon the weight of the tow.
- 3. The linearly intermixed tow of claim 2 wherein prior to being intermixed with thermoplastic fibers, the carbon fibers are contained in a tow having a bundle denier of from 300 to about 100,000.
- 4. The linearly intermixed tow of claim 2 wherein prior to being intermixed with thermoplastic fibers, the carbon fibers are contained in a tow having a filament count of from 3,000 to about 24,000.
- 5. The linearly intermixed tow of claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic fibers, prior to intermixing, are contained in a tow containing from about 10 to about 150,000 filaments.
- 6. The linearly intermixed tow of claim 2 wherein the thermoplastic fibers, prior to intermixing, are contained in a tow containing from about 10 to about 150,000 filaments.
- 7. The linearly intermixed tow of claim 3 wherein the thermoplastic fibers, prior to intermixing, are contained in a tow containing from about 10 to about 150,000 filaments.
- 8. The linearly intermixed tow of claim 4 wherein the thermoplastic fibers, prior to intermixing, are contained in a tow containing from about 10 to about 150,000 filaments.
- 9. The linearly intermixed tow of claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic fibers, prior to intermixing, are contained in a tow containing from about 100 to about 10,000 filaments.
- 10. The linearly intermixed tow of claim 2 wherein the thermoplastic fibers, prior to intermixing, are contained in a tow containing from about 100 to about 10,000 filaments.
- 11. The linearly intermixed tow of claim 3 wherein the thermoplastic fibers, prior to intermixing, are contained in a tow containing from about 100 to about 10,000 filaments.
- 12. The linearly intermixed tow of claim 4 wherein the thermoplastic fibers, prior to intermixing, are contained in a tow containing from about 100 to about 10,000 filaments.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/657,348 filed on Feb. 15, 1991, now abandoned which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 06/770,376 filed Aug. 29, 1985, now abandonded which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 06/589,825 filed Mar. 15, 1984, now abandoned, to which priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. Section 120.
Government Interests
This invention was made with government support under contract No. NAS1-15749 awarded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The Government has certain rights in this invention.
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Continuations (3)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
657348 |
Feb 1991 |
|
Parent |
770376 |
Aug 1985 |
|
Parent |
589825 |
Mar 1984 |
|