Claims
- 1. A tow of a matrix resin reinforced with substantially axially aligned fibers broken in a random manner from a process of: feeding a thermoplastic resin matrix tow reinforced with continuous filament fibers into a tensioning zone; heating said tow in said tensioning zone to soften said thermoplastic resin while tensioning said tow sufficiently to break all of said continuous filament fibers in a random manner; and cooling said tow.
- 2. The tow of claim 1 wherein said continuous filament fibers are aramid fibers.
- 3. The tow of claim 1 wherein said continuous fibers are glass fibers.
- 4. The tow of claim 1 wherein said continuous filament fibers are carbon fibers.
- 5. The tow of claim 1 wherein the ratio of reinforcement fibers to matrix resin is from about 40 to about 75% by volume.
- 6. The tow of claim 1 wherein the broken fiber lengths range from about 1/2 inch to about 6 inches.
- 7. The tow of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 wherein 95% of said fibers are within .+-.10 degrees of being axially aligned.
- 8. The tow of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 wherein about 93% of said fibers are within .+-.5 degrees of being axially aligned.
- 9. A compression molded article from the tow of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.
- 10. A compression molded article from the tow of claim 9.
- 11. A compression molded article from the tow of claim 8.
Parent Case Info
This is a division of application Ser. No. 07/344,973, filed 4-26-89.
US Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
3864184 |
Crandall et al. |
Feb 1975 |
|
4759985 |
Armiger et al. |
Jul 1988 |
|
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
344973 |
Apr 1989 |
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