Patent ID: 8470218
Filing Date: 2013-06-25
Classification: D01D

Abstract:
1. A process for manufacturing a composite strand formed by the blending of continuous glass filaments and continuous thermoplastic filaments comprising the steps of: drawing said glass filaments into a web; drawing said thermoplastic filaments into a web; passing said web of thermoplastic filaments through a pre-crimping system to separate the thermoplastic filaments and to raise a temperature of said thermoplastic filaments to a temperature less than the thermoplastic softening temperature; projecting said web of thermoplastic filaments onto a moving support, wherein the speed of said moving support is less than the speed of said projected thermoplastic filaments, thereby forming a web of crimped thermoplastic filaments; passing said web of said thermoplastic filaments through a post-crimping system to separate said thermoplastic filaments; and blending said web of crimped thermoplastic filaments with said web of said glass filaments to form a composite strand; wherein said step of projecting said web of thermoplastic filaments to form the web of crimped thermoplastic filaments is performed prior to said blending.