Patent ID: 6210792
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: B27N,B29B,B29K,C08J,C08K,C08L,Y10T

Abstract:
A composite pellet, capable of formation into a structural member, which pellet comprises a cylindrical extrudate having a radius of about 1 to 5 mm, a length of about 1 to 10 mm;the pellet composition comprising:(a) a major proportion of a continuous chemically modified polymer phase comprising vinyl chloride;(b) about 10 to 45 wt-% of chemically modified cellulosic fiber having a minimum thickness of 1 .mu.m and a minimum length of 3 mm and a minimum aspect ratio of about 1.8; andwherein the polymer is chemically modified by a first reagent resulting in an increase in compatibility between the modified polymer and the fiber, and wherein the cellulosic fiber is chemically modified by a second reagent that can bond to a cellulosic hydroxyl, the second reagent having a moiety that is compatible with the polymer, the fiber is dispersed throughout the continuous chemically modified polymer phase and the tensile stress at failure is increased when compared to a composite with unmodified fiber, unmodified polymer, or both.