摘要 |
A composite material is provided in which certain properties, or combinations of properties, are improved relative to similar comparative composite materials. The composite material generally comprises a fiber reinforced thermoplastic core that includes a thermoplastic resin and discontinuous fibers dispersed within the thermoplastic resin. The fibers are particularly subject to certain conditions, namely a content of about 15 wt. % to about 65 wt. % of the thermoplastic core, a diameter of from about 17 mum to about 22 mum, and a length of from about 17 mm to about 25 mm. By including fibers meeting these characteristics, the present invention composite material exhibits improved maximum flexural stiffness at reduced basis weight compared to a comparative composite material comprising a fiber reinforced thermoplastic core differing from the composite material only in that the fiber reinforced thermoplastic core of the comparative composite material does not contain fibers meeting the content, diameter and length conditions of the fibers in the thermoplastic core of the composite material.
|