Patent ID: 7972685

Claim:
A composition of a fiber reinforced laminate that, on processing with heat and compression, forms a composite with a substantially fiber free surface, said composition comprising: a) a first extruded layer comprised of a cyclic polyester oligomer containing a latent polymerization catalyst; b) a first permeable layer of reinforcing fibers; c) a polyester polymers, or a polycarbonate, or a blend thereof: wherein the latent polymerization catalyst is activated when exposed to temperatures in excess of 200° C., which initiates polymerization of the cyclic polyester oligomer therein forming a polymerized resin; and wherein, when processed at temperatures above 200° C., the cyclic polyester oligomer flows impregnating the permeable layer of reinforcing fibers, polymerizes, and forming the composite that has a substantially fiber free surface, wherein the cyclic polyester oligomer is selected from the group consisting of cyclic poly(1,4-butylene terephthalate) (CPBT), poly(1,3-propylene terephthalate) (CPPT), poly(1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate) (CPCT), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (CPET), poly(1,2-ethylene 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate) (CPEN), polycaprolactone (CPCL) oligomers, and copolyester oligomers comprising two or more of the above monomer repeat units, wherein the composition is further comprised of a linear polyester oligomer, or a polycarbonate oligomer, or a blend thereof.