Patent ID: 9205604
Filing Date: 2015-12-08
Classification: B29B,B29C,B82Y,C08J,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for producing modified thermoplastic polymer powder particles comprising aligned reinforcement elements, the method comprising: feeding a liquid suspension comprising reinforcement elements and thermoplastic polymer powder into a reaction chamber, the reinforcement elements having an electromagnetic moment; heating the suspension within the reaction chamber so as to soften the thermoplastic polymer powder and cause the reinforcement elements to migrate into the softened powder, thereby forming modified thermoplastic polymer powder; irradiating an electromagnetic field to the suspension within the reaction chamber during said heating, an interaction of the electromagnetic field with the electromagnetic moment of the reinforcement elements causing the reinforcement elements to align with the electromagnetic field before said migrating into the softened powder; and separating the modified powder from the liquid, wherein the reaction chamber has an inlet and an outlet, the method operating continuously by simultaneously feeding the liquid suspension into the reaction chamber via the inlet and discharging a liquid suspension of the modified powder from the reaction chamber via the outlet during said heating and irradiating.