Die and method for impregnating fiber rovings

摘要

A die and a method for impregnating fiber rovings (142) with a polymer resin (214) are disclosed. The die includes a manifold assembly (220), an impregnation zone, and a gate passage (270). The manifold assembly flows the resin (214) therethrough, and includes a plurality of branched runners (222). The impregnation zone is in fluid communication with the manifold assembly, and is configured to impregnate the roving with the resin. The gate passage (270) is between the manifold assembly and the impregnation zone (250), and flows the resin from the manifold assembly such that the resin coats the roving. The method includes flowing a polymer resin through a manifold assembly. The method further includes coating at least one fiber roving with the resin, and traversing the coated roving through an impregnation zone to impregnate the roving with the resin. The roving is under a tension of from about 5 Newtons to about 300 Newtons within the impregnation zone.

主权项

1. A die for impregnating at least one fiber roving with a polymer resin, the die comprising:
a manifold assembly for flowing the resin therethrough, the manifold assembly comprising a plurality of branched runners; an impregnation zone in fluid communication with the manifold assembly, the impregnation zone configured to impregnate the roving with the resin; and a gate passage between the manifold assembly and the impregnation zone for flowing the resin from the manifold assembly such that the resin coats the roving, the entire gate passage extending vertically between the manifold assembly and the impregnation zone, the entire gate passage having a constantly decreasing cross-sectional profile in a flow direction of the resin.