Patent ID: 6159408
Filing Date: 2000-12-12
Classification: B29B,B29C,B29K

Abstract:
A molded article made of fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material which is obtained by a process comprising the following steps of:(i) providing a molding machine comprising (a) a plasticizing apparatus having an opening for receiving raw materials, (b) an apparatus for feeding the raw materials, into the plasticizing apparatus, said apparatus for feeding including feeders for discharging reinforcing fibers of a predetermined length and a thermoplastic material in a solid state, and a (c) molding apparatus having a cavity;(ii) feeding thermoplastic material in a solid state and reinforcing fibers, said reinforcing fibers having been previously cut to a length of from about 3 mm to 50 mm simultaneously into the plasticizing apparatus through the opening from the feeding apparatus;(iii) melting the thermoplastic material and kneading the thermoplastic material and the reinforcing fibers in the plasticizing apparatus to produce a kneaded material;(iv) supplying the kneaded material to the molding apparatus from the plasticizing apparatus; and(v) molding the kneaded material into the molded article in the cavity, wherein the molded article contains reinforcing fibers of a weight average length of about 2 mm or more.