Inventors:
Paul E. McMahon - Mountainside NJ
Lincoln Ying - Bridgewater NJ
Assignee:
BASF Structural Materials Inc. - Charlotte NC
International Classification:
D01G 1300
B29C 4302
Abstract:
A composite article is prepared by forming a continuous tow of continuous carbon fibers, forming a continuous tow of thermoplastic polymer fibers, uniformly and continuously spreading the thermoplastic polymer fibers to a selected width, uniformly and continuously spreading the carbon fiber tow to a width that is essentially the same as the selected width for the thermoplastic polymer fiber tow, intermixing the tows intimately, uniformly and continuously, in a relatively tension-free state, continuously withdrawing the intermixed tow and applying the tow to a mold and heating the tow.