Patent ID: 6508906
Filing Date: 2003-01-21
Classification: B29C,B32B,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of making from laminate an automotive carbon fiber-filled sheet molding compound having the characteristics of light weight, high stiffness and strength, the method comprising:providing chopped automotive carbon fibers, a predetermined resin paste, a first carrier film and a second carrier film; coating at least a portion of one side of one of the first and second carrier films with the predetermined resin paste to define a coated side of the one of the first and second carrier films; depositing the chopped automotive carbon fibers onto the coated side of the first carrier film; covering the deposited carbon fibers with the second carrier film to define a compactible carbon-filled laminate; and compacting the carbon-filled laminate to admix the resin paste with the carbon fibers between the films, whereby to form the automotive carbon fiber-filled sheet molding compound.