摘要 |
Apparatus for making a reinforced thermoplastic composite is disclosed. The apparatus is designed for making such composite from a dry blend of expanded thermoplastic pieces and filler particles of ambient temperature. The thermoplastic composite includes a quantity of expanded thermoplastic pieces and a quantity of filler particles suspended by the pieces, with the quantity being up to 60% by weight of the blend. The apparatus includes a first elongate compartment defining a low-pressure compression chamber, and a feeder for sequentially transferring the blend to the first compartment in preselected amounts. A second elongate compartment defines a high-pressure compression chamber with open ends and an entry section structured with a port. The second compartment is positioned adjacent the first compartment so that the chambers are in communication with each other via the port. The apparatus also includes a plurality of reinforcing strands for feeding through the high-pressure chamber, with each such strand having a front section which is positioned in the entry section. Heating structure is provided for heating the high-pressure chamber. A low-pressure compressor is included to compress the blend in the low-pressure chamber and transfer it to the entry section around the front sections of the strands. A high-pressure compressor is included to compress the blend around the strands in the heated high-pressure chamber to form a molten reinforced thermoplastic composite, and to transfer the same out of the chamber where it can cool, thus to form a reinforced thermoplastic composite.
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