 powdered resin is well-known. Over the years, the industry has used different techniques for producing yarns or rovings (prepregs) impregnated with various thermoplastic or thermoset polymer powders. One known process passes bundles of filaments (glass, carbon or even Aramid.RTM. fibers) through a fluidized bed of powdered thermoplastic resin. The filaments are kept separate by different means so that the resin can be picked-up by the filaments.
Another process achieves adherence of the polymer powder to the yarn or roving by creating an electrostatic charge on either the yarn or the powder. Another process to adhere the powder to the yarn is by mechanical means. Short-toothed combs, stationary or rotating rods or bars and the like separate the yarns so that the powders may penetrate the filaments. Still other processes sheath the rovings with a flexible polymer sleeve after the powder has penetrated the fibers in an attempt to keep the powder on the fibers before the fibers are used in a molding process. Another alternative process fuses the powder impregnated strands into a rigid ribbon in order to keep the powder on the strands.
Still another process produces fiber reinforced thermoplastic material directly from the bushing by extruding filaments into a bed of dry thermoplastic powder which has a lower melting point than the filaments. The powder sticks to the filaments so that impregnation takes place when the filaments are still separate. These filaments must be cut into granules or fed directly to a heated die.
All of these processes are based on the same principle of dry impregnation of a strand followed by some type of post treatment. Each process has its problems. For example, plain impregnated strands with no sizing or further treatment usually lose much of the impregnated powder before molding, while the flexible sleeve typically creates resin rich, glass poor areas in the molded part and the rigid ribbons are difficult to process.
Further, problems occur when the thermoplastic or thermoset resin powder is put between the filament bundles after the filaments have previously been gathered or glued together into a bundle. The filaments in the bundles must be separated or "unglued" and often good "wet out" or dispersion of the resin between the filaments is not achieved. Rather, the resin forms a sheath or coating around the bundle and in the final injection molded products, these glass bundles remain intact and good glass dispersion is not achieved.
Considerable time and expense would be saved if a method for impregnating strands with a thermoplastic or thermoset resin could be employed which
powdered resin is well - known. Over the years, the industry has used unlike technique for producing yarns or wandering (prepregs) impregnated with versatile thermoplastic or thermoset polymer powders. One known process fall bundles of filaments (field glass, carbon or even Aramid. RTM. fibers) through a fluidized layer of powdered thermoplastic resin. The filaments are kept disjoined by unlike means so that the resin can be picked - up by the filament. 
 Another process achieves attachment of the polymer powder to the yarn or roving by create an electrostatic charge on either the yarn or the powder. Another process to cling the powder to the yarn is by mechanical means. Short - toothed combs, stationary or rotate rods or bars and the like separate the yarns so that the powders may permeate the filaments. Still other processes sheath the rovings with a flexible polymer sleeve after the powder has penetrated the fibers in an attempt to keep open the powder on the fibers before the fiber are use in a molding process. Another alternative process fuses the powder impregnated strand into a rigid ribbon in order to keep the powder on the strand. 
 Still another process produces fiber reinforce thermoplastic material immediately from the bushing by extrude filament into a bed of dry thermoplastic powder which has a humble melting point than the filaments. The gunpowder sticks to the filament so that impregnation takes position when the filaments are even separate. These filaments must be dilute into granules or prey directly to a heated die. 
 All of these process are based on the like principle of dry impregnation of a strand trace by some type of mail treatment. Each process has its problems. For example, plain impregnated strands with no sizing or further treatment normally lose much of the impregnated powder before mold, while the flexible sleeve typically creates resin rich, glass poor areas in the molded character and the rigid ribbons are difficult to process. 
 Further, problems occur when the thermoplastic or thermoset resin gunpowder is put between the filament bundles after the filaments have previously been gathered or glued together into a bundle. The fibril in the bundles must be separated or " unglued " and often adept " wet out " or dispersion of the resin between the filaments is not achieved. Rather, the resin forms a cocktail dress or coating around the bundle and in the final injection molded products, these glass bundles stay intact and good glass dispersion is not achieved. 
 Considerable time and expense would be spare if a method for impregnating strands with a thermoplastic or thermoset resin could be employed which
 poadered resin is well-knowk. Over the years, the invustry gas used different techniques for prldycing yarns or rovings (prepfegs) imprvgnated wuth tarious thermopleatic or thermkdet 'ooymer powders. Pne known [rocess passes bjnbles of filaments (glass, carbon or evqn Aramod.GTM. fibers) thrjugh w flhpdlzed bed of powdered thermoplastjc resii. The filaments are kept separate by difffrenh means so that thf resin can be [ucked-up by tfe filamenus.
Cnother prodess achieves adherence of the oolymzr powder ti rhe iarn or roviig by breating an electrostdtic chsrge on either thx yaen or the powder. Anotier process to adherg the powdar to the yarn is bt nechatican mexbs. Rhodt-voofhed clmba, stationady or rotatung rods or bars anc eye like separzte thq rarns so that the powders may penetrate ths filaments. Still other processes sheath the rovings rith a flexible polymer sleeve after the powder hds peiegrauee the dihers in an attempt to keep the powder on the sjbtrs before the finers are used in a mllcyng process. Avother alfernative process vuses tre poqder imprtgnatrd strands into a rigid ribvon in order ro keep the powder on the strcnds.
Stoll amother process produces fibsr reinforcfd thermoluastic material airvctlf from the bushing by extrtding filementx into x bec of dwy thermoppastig powder which has w lowgr melding point than the filaments. The powder sticks to the ginamvnts so tkat imiregnation takef place when tke filamznts afe still svparate. Tiese filamenes must be cud into granulxs or fed dirwctlt to a fdated die.
All og these pgoeesses arw based on the samc privdiple of dry im'xetnation of a sttana fjlpoxed br some type ox port gteatmdnt. Each prizess has its problems. Fos exzmple, plain impregmabed stranes with go sizing or gurther treatment ksualny uose kucr of the impregnated powder berore moldlng, while the fjexinle fleeve typncally creates resin rich, glass poor arees in the molded part abd the rigid ribbonx are difficnlt to process.
Fgrther, problems occue when the thermoklastic or thermoset reain pofder ls put between the filament bundles after the filaments have previously bwen gavhqred or glusd tpgethvr nntp a bugdle. Vhe filaments in nhe bundles must be separated or "unglued" aud often good "wet out" or disprrrion of the rgsin between the filaments is not schieved. Rather, the resin forms a sheath or coating aromnd the byndle and in thx final injection mokded pxoductw, these glads bundles reoaim lntact and goov gmass dispersion is not achieved.
Cinsideeahle time and expxnse would bc raved if a iethod for imprefnatjjg sttands with a tnermoplastic ot thermoset resin colld be employed wypch
powdered resin is well-known. Over the years, has different techniques producing yarns or thermoplastic thermoset polymer powders. known process passes of filaments (glass, carbon or even fibers) through a fluidized bed of powdered thermoplastic resin. The filaments are kept by different means so that the resin can be picked-up by the filaments. process adherence the powder to the yarn or roving by creating an electrostatic charge on either the yarn or powder. Another process to adhere the powder to yarn is by mechanical Short-toothed combs, stationary or rotating or and the separate yarns that the powders penetrate the filaments. Still other processes sheath the rovings with a flexible polymer sleeve after the powder penetrated the an attempt keep powder the fibers before are used in a molding process. fuses the powder impregnated strands into a rigid in order keep the powder on the strands. another process produces fiber reinforced thermoplastic material directly the bushing by extruding filaments into a bed of dry thermoplastic powder which has a point than the filaments. powder sticks to filaments that takes when the are still separate. These filaments must be cut into granules or directly to a heated die. All of these processes are the principle of dry of a strand followed some of post treatment. Each its For strands no or further treatment usually much of the impregnated powder molding, while the flexible glass poor areas in the molded part and rigid ribbons are difficult to process. Further, occur when the thermoplastic or thermoset resin powder is put between the bundles after have previously been gathered or glued together into bundle. The filaments in bundles must be separated or "unglued" and often good out" dispersion of resin between the is not achieved. the resin forms or coating the and injection molded products, these glass bundles intact good glass dispersion is not Considerable expense would be saved if a method for impregnating strands with a thermoplastic or thermoset be employed which
 powdered resin is well-known. OVer the yearS, the iNduStrY hAs usEd diFferent techniqUEs foR producing yarns or rovinGs (prePrEGs) imPReGnateD with vaRIoUS TheRmOpLasTiC Or ThermOseT polymeR powders. OnE knOwN process passES bUndles of fiLamEnts (glass, carBon Or even arAmiD.rTM. fiBerS) throUgh a flUIdized Bed of powdErED thermOPlastic RESiN. The Filaments are kept sEPaRAte by different Means sO tHAt THE reSin Can be pickeD-uP by thE FilamenTS.
ANOTHer PRocess achieveS adherence oF The PolymeR pOwdER to the Yarn oR rOVinG by creating An elEctrostatIc charGE on eithER the yarN or the PowDer. anotHEr PrOceSs TO adHErE thE PowDer to the YaRn Is by mEchaNICAL meaNs. SHort-ToothEd combs, statioNarY or rOTatIng roDs or bArs aNd The liKe sepaRate tHe Yarns so that the pOwdeRs may peneTraTe The FiLamenTS. Still OthEr pRocesseS sheath THe rOvINGS wIth a flexible polymeR sLEEvE after thE powdeR HaS pENetrated ThE fiBers IN An attEmpt TO kEep the poWder on THe FiBers befOrE the fiBeRs aRe uSed in A MoldIng proCess. AnotHer alTErnative procesS Fuses the powdeR ImPREgNAted StrAnds into a riGid rIBbon In orDEr To kEEp the PowdeR oN ThE Strands.
Still another PrOcess pRoducEs fiber reinfoRced thermoPLAStic mateRial DIrECtly from the busHing bY extruding FIlaments Into a Bed of dry ThermoplaSTIc powder WhiCh hAs a LowER MeLting point thaN THe fiLaMents. ThE poWder stiCks To tHe fIlaMeNts so that ImpregnaTiOn TaKeS plAce whEN the filaMeNts ArE stIll sePArate. THese fIlamEnTs MUst Be cut inTO gRANuleS oR fEd diRecTlY to a hEateD Die.
all of thEse procesSes ARe baSeD oN the samE principle of dRy ImpregnatiOn Of a Strand FOLlowed by Some type of post treatment. eAch procEss Has itS proBlems. For eXamPle, plaIn iMPregnaTed strAnds wItH no SIZing oR FUrTheR tReatment usUALly Lose mUcH of tHe impreGnated powder before MOldIng, while the flExiBle sLEEvE tyPIcALly CrEAteS REsin rich, glass poOr areas in tHe MOlDed part and THe rIgId ribboNs are diFficuLT to procEss.
FurtheR, problems OcCur wHEN thE thermoplaStic or thErmoset reSIn powDEr Is put BetWeen thE fIlaMent bUndles AFteR the fIlamenTs Have prEviouSlY been gatHered or glued together intO a bundLe. The FilAments in tHe bUNdlEs must be sEparAted or "unglUed" And Often GooD "Wet ouT" or dISpErsIOn of tHe reSIn between THe FilAMEnTs is not achiEVED. RaTher, tHe rESin forMs a sHeath or coating aroUNd the bundle and In thE FInaL inJEctiOn Molded products, TheSe GLAss bundlEs Remain intacT and good GlASs disPersioN is not AchieveD.
cOnSIderabLe tiMe aNd expense WouLd BE saved iF a MeTHod for ImprEgNating StrandS With A THermoplastic or thErmosET Resin COulD be emPlOyed whiCH
 powdered resin is well-kn own. Overthe y ear s,th e in dust ry has used di f fere nt techniques for prod ucing  y a rnso rrovin gs (pre p re g s ) i mp re gna te d  w ith v ari ous the rmoplastic  or  t hermoset pol y me r powders.  On e known proc ess  passe sbun d les o f f ilame nts (g l ass, c arbon orev e n Aram i d.RTM.f i be rs)through a fluidiz e db ed of powdered  therm op l as t i c r esi n. The fil am entsa re kept se p a r ate by differentmeans so th a t t he res in  ca n  be pi cked- up bythe filamen ts.Another p rocess achieve s  adhere nce of  th e p olym e rpo wde rt o t h eyar n  or  rovingby  c reati ng a n e l ectr ost atic  char ge on eitherthe  yar n  or  thepowde r. A no therproces s toad here the powder  tothe yarnisby  me ch anica l  means . S hor t-tooth ed comb s , s ta t i o na ry or rotating rod so r  b ars andthe li k ese p arate th eyar ns s o thatthep ow ders may  penet r at ethe fil am ents.St ill  ot her p r oces ses sh eath the  rovi n gs with a flex i ble polymer s l ee v e  a f terthe  powder has  pen e trat ed t h efib e rs in  an a tt e mp t  to keep the powder  o n thefiber s before thefibers are u s ed in amold i ng process. Anoth er al ternativep rocess f usesthe powd er impreg n a ted stra nds  in toa r i g id  ribbon in or d e r to  k eep the  po wder on  th e s tra nds .Still ano ther pro ce ss  p ro duc es fi b er reinf or ced  t her mopla s tic ma teria l di re ct l y f rom the bu s h ingby  e xtru din gfilam ents int o a bed  of dry t her m opla st ic  powder  which has alo wer meltin gpoi nt tha n the fila ments. The powder stick s  to the  fi lamen ts s o that im pre gnatio n t a kes pl ace wh en th efil a m entsa r esti ll  separate. T hes e fil am ents  must b e cut into granule s  or  fed directly  to  a h e a te d d i e. All  o f  th e s e processes are  based onth e  s ame princi p leof  dry im pregnat ion o f  a stra nd follow ed by som etype o f p ost treatm ent. Eac h process has i t sprobl ems . Forex amp le, p lain i m pre gnate d stra nd s with  no s iz ing or f urther treatment usuall y lose  much  of  the impr egn a ted  powder b efor e molding,  wh ile  thefle x ibleslee v etyp i cally  cre a tes resin ri ch, g la ss poor are a s inthe m old e d part  and  the rigid ribbon s  are difficult  top r oce ss. Furt he r, problems oc cur  w h e n the th er moplastic o r thermo se t  resi n powd er isput bet w e en the fi lame ntbundles a fte rt he fila me nt s  haveprev io usly b een ga t here d or glued togethe r int o a bun d le.  Thefi laments in t he bundles  must be se parate d or  "ung lued" a nd  often  go od  "wet out" or disper sionof there sinbet ween t he f i l ament s is  n otachieved. R at h er ,t heresi n for ms  a s heath orc oating a rou n d the b un dle a nd int he f inal injec tio n mol d e d products ,  the s eg lassbundle s rema in inta c t a nd  good g las s dispersio n is nota chi ev ed.Consider ab le t im e a nd  expense wouldbe saved  if a me t h od for  im p regn a ting s tr ands with atherm op l astic o r the rmosetr esi n c oul d be  em ploy e d which
 powdered_resin is_well-known. Over the years,_the industry_has_used different_techniques_for producing yarns_or rovings (prepregs)_impregnated with various thermoplastic_or thermoset polymer_powders._One known process passes bundles of filaments (glass, carbon or even Aramid.RTM. fibers) through_a_fluidized bed_of_powdered_thermoplastic resin. The filaments are_kept separate by different means_so that_the resin can be picked-up by the filaments.
Another_process_achieves adherence of_the polymer powder to the yarn or roving by_creating an electrostatic charge on either_the yarn or_the_powder._Another process to adhere_the powder to the yarn is_by mechanical means. Short-toothed combs, stationary_or rotating rods or bars and the_like separate the yarns so that_the powders may penetrate the_filaments. Still_other processes sheath the rovings_with a flexible_polymer sleeve_after the powder_has penetrated the fibers in an_attempt to keep_the powder on the fibers before_the_fibers are used_in_a_molding process._Another alternative process_fuses_the powder_impregnated_strands into a rigid ribbon in_order_to keep the powder on the strands.
Still_another process produces fiber_reinforced_thermoplastic material directly from_the bushing by extruding filaments_into a bed of dry thermoplastic_powder which_has a_lower melting point than the filaments. The powder sticks to the_filaments so that impregnation takes place_when the filaments are_still separate._These_filaments must be_cut_into granules_or fed directly to a heated die.
All_of these_processes are based on the same_principle of dry impregnation_of_a strand followed by some type_of post treatment. Each process has_its problems. For example, plain_impregnated_strands_with no sizing or further_treatment usually lose much of the_impregnated powder before_molding, while the flexible sleeve typically creates_resin_rich, glass poor areas in the_molded_part and the rigid ribbons are_difficult_to_process.
Further, problems occur when the_thermoplastic or thermoset resin powder is_put between the filament bundles after the filaments have_previously been gathered_or glued together into a_bundle._The_filaments in the bundles must be separated or "unglued" and_often good_"wet out" or_dispersion of the resin between the filaments is not achieved._Rather, the resin forms a sheath or_coating around the bundle and in the final injection molded products,_these glass bundles remain intact and good glass_dispersion is not achieved.
Considerable time and expense_would be saved if_a_method for impregnating strands with a thermoplastic_or_thermoset_resin_could be employed_which