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A conventional method of fabricating fiber-reinforced thermo-plastic composites is via stampable sheet molding using fiber reinforced thermoplastic sheets. The Institute, however, has developed a new sheet production method that uses a "fiber flying/separating machine" [see Fig. (a)] In the new method, continuous reinforced fiber and thermoplastic fiber are fed simultaneously to a machine which cuts, separates, and mixes the fibers for continuous production of a mat uniformly mixed with both fibers. Heat compression molding of laminated mixed mats [see Fig. (b)] takes only 30 seconds or less and allows free selection of the concentration of reinforcement fibers. This method can also be applied to hybrid type composites mixed with different reinforced fibers and functionally gradient materials with distributed concentrations.
Composite mat production equipment |