CONSOLIDATION CYCLE

摘要

A method of manufacturing a fibre reinforced thermoplastic product, the method comprising: (a) heating a thermoplastic and fibre composition to a first temperature T1 under a first pressure p1 for a first period of time t1; (b) reducing the pressure applied from p1 to a second pressure p2 and heating the composition to a second temperature T2 under p2 for a second period of time t2; and (c) increasing the pressure from p2 to a third pressure p3 and applying p3 for a third period of time t3; wherein: the temperatures T1 and T2 are equal to or greater than the melt temperature Tm of the thermoplastic; the temperature cools from T2 to a temperature below the melt temperature Tm of the thermoplastic in t3.