Method for manufatcuring partly reinforced plastic parts

摘要

A thermoformable reinforcing material (4) with fibers longer than 1 mm is heated (1) and draped with specific orientation onto particular areas of a positive thermoforming tool (6) and a plasticized plastic sheet (3) is then drawn over the tool by vacuum (5) and pressed against the tool surface where the reinforcement and plastic sheet fuse together. An Independent claim is made for a plastic component produced by the process and used either as a spring, a joint replacement with a spring resetting system or part of a prosthesis or orthesis. Preferred Features: The plastic sheet (3) is clamped in a frame (2) and heated to the softening point where it hangs in the frame and is prestretched. Alternatively, prestretching is by compressed air. Heat for the fusing action is transferred from the plastic sheet to the reinforcing material (4). Fibers are uni- or multidirectional and are homogeneously distributed in sections of a thermoplastic matrix. Reinforcement may also be a layered composite material with one or more fibrous reinforcing layers and an unreinforced plastic layer.