Disclosed herein is a process for producing a long glass fibre-reinforced thermoplastic polymer composition, comprising the sequential steps of a) unwinding continuous glass multifilament strand containing at most 2% by mass of a sizing composition; b) applying from 0.5 to 20% by mass of an impregnating agent to form an impregnated continuous multifilament strand; and c) applying a sheath of thermoplastic polymer around the impregnated continuous multifilament strand to form a sheathed continuous multifilament strand, wherein the impregnating agent is non-volatile, has a melting point of at least 20° C. below the melting point of the thermoplastic matrix, has a viscosity of from 2.5 to 100 cS at application temperature, and is compatible with the thermoplastic polymer to be reinforced. This process allows trouble-free handling and unwinding of packages, and results in long glass fibre-reinforced thermoplastic products that can be made into articles having good mechanical properties and high quality surface appearance.

A device for coating a thread with a coating material includes a housing, a die body, and a supply line for the coating material. The housing includes a support and a cover mounted on the support, delimiting a chamber. The die body is installed in the chamber, between the support and the cover. The die body includes a lower part and an upper part, with a calibrated die channel being located between the lower and upper parts. Between the support and the cover are an inlet through passage and an outlet through passage. The inlet and outlet passages and the die channel are aligned, so that a thread is able to be passed longitudinally therethrough. The supply line for the coating material includes a lower outlet end located close to the thread, between the inlet or upstream through passage and the die channel.

The present invention relates to a new composite comprising glass or carbon fibers and polymer-based fibers as well as to a process for the preparation of the composite and molded articles made from said composite.

The present invention relates to a new composite comprising glass or carbon fibers and polymer-based fibers as well as to a process for the preparation of the composite and molded articles made from said composite.

The invention relates to a method and facility for manufacturing a tape of reinforcement filaments impregnated by a polymer matrix, said tape having a constant width across the entire length thereof, wherein the filaments extend in a direction parallel to the length of the tape, from a strand of filaments coming from a feeding reel, the method including steps and units that make it possible to manage the unwinding tension of the strand, to guide the strand on the axis of the machine, to manage the width of the strand, to deposit the polymer on the strand by electrostatic powdering, with a polymer weight ratio of around 20% to around 75% to melt the polymer, to calibrate the width and thickness of the tape and to collect the tape on the storage reel.

The invention relates to a method and facility for manufacturing a tape of reinforcement filaments impregnated by a polymer matrix, said tape having a constant width across the entire length thereof, wherein the filaments extend in a direction parallel to the length of the tape, from a strand of filaments coming from a feeding reel, the method including steps and units that make it possible to manage the unwinding tension of the strand, to guide the strand on the axis of the machine, to manage the width of the strand, to deposit the polymer on the strand by electrostatic powdering, with a polymer weight ratio of around 20% to around 75% to melt the polymer, to calibrate the width and thickness of the tape and to collect the tape on the storage reel.

In an apparatus for manufacturing a coated thread, a thread extends between first and second spools and passes through a cartridge having ink reservoirs in which the stretched thread is dipped while the thread and a sensor that provides, to a controller, a value of a parameter indicative of an extent to which the thread has been dipped in the ink reservoir. The controller uses this parameter as a basis for controlling rotation of a motor that rotates one of the spools.

A topping sheet forming method includes: feeding a textile original fabric, obtained by weaving longitudinally aligned tire cords into a cord fabric by use of weft yams; cutting off the weft yarns at a predetermined widthwise position to divide the textile original fabric into a plurality of narrow textile original fabrics; and topping at least one surface of the narrow textile original fabric with unvulcanized rubber.

A topping sheet forming method includes: a feeding and division step of feeding a textile original fabric, obtained by weaving longitudinally aligned tire cords into a cord fabric by use of weft yarns, and cutting off the weft yarns in predetermined widthwise positions to divide the textile original fabric into a plurality of narrow textile original fabrics; and a topping step of topping at least one surface of each of the narrow textile original fabrics with unvulcanized rubber.

Curable prepregs possessing enhanced ability for the removal of gases from within prepregs and between prepreg plies in a prepreg layup prior to and/or during consolidation and curing. Each curable prepreg is a resin-impregnated, woven fabric that has been subjected to a treatment to create an array of openings in at least one major surface. Furthermore, the location of the openings is specific to the weave pattern of the fabric.