Highly-oriented fibrous mats

Publication Date
2004-06-08Filing Date
2000-04-25Inventor
Scheinberg, Stephen P.
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
A mat containing highly machine direction oriented (90% or greater), discontinuous reinforcement fibers, is produced on inclined wire or rotary paper making machinery. Fibers are first uniformly dispersed in an aqueous medium containing thickeners and wetting agents. In one embodiment, antifoaming agents are also added to prevent floating fibers which entangle and reduce orientation. Thermoplastic fibers or particles may also be included. Stock is brought into an open headbox in a flow pattern which allows the fibers to decelerate before approaching the porous suction belt (wire). As the fibers approach the suction belt, the fibers begin to turn and align in the streamline so as to present one end toward the suction wire. The leading ends of the fibers are gripped by the moving belt which drags the fibers out of the dispersion stock in a straight line. The porous mat produced may be dried and bonded through hot air, heat and/or pressure, or chemical binders. Stacks of such mats may be compressed partially to produce porous structures, or fully to produce impervious, rigid structural panels or shapes.
Assignee
Virginia Tech Foundation, Inc.
Patent Number
6746571
Application Number
9558393
Primary/U.S. Class
162/131
Other/U.S. Class
162/152
162/157.1
162/157.2
162/158
162/202
162/213
CPC Class
D21F9/046
D21F9/02
D21F11/00
D21H13/24
D21H13/40
D21H13/50
D21H21/12
Y10T442/2336
Y10T442/663
Patent Type
utility
Collections
- Virginia Tech Patents [687]