Patent ID: 7691305

Claim:
A method of making a fiber reinforced thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) composition and forming a fabricated article therefrom comprising the steps of: (1) introducing into an extruder a polyolefin polymer, (2) introducing into the extruder a masterbatch comprising a polyolefin elastomer, (3) plasticating the polyolefin polymer and the masterbatch in the extruder forming a molten thermoplastic polyolefin composition, (4) introducing a continuous reinforcing fiber material into the molten thermoplastic polyolefin composition, (5) extruding the molten fiber reinforced thermoplastic polyolefin composition through a die forming a continuous extrusion of heated fiber reinforced thermoplastic polyolefin composition having a desired cross-sectional shape, (6) conveying the continuous extrusion of heated fiber reinforced thermoplastic polyolefin composition to a cutter, (7) cutting the continuous extrusion into a plurality of preforms and (8) conveying the preforms away from said cutter into a compression mold, a vacuum forming mold or a thermoforming mold, and (9) forming a fabricated article comprising the fiber reinforced thermoplastic polyolefin composition.