ORIENTED CHOPPED FIBER MAT, AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING THE SAME

摘要

PURPOSE: To produce the subject mat excellent in directional strength from a non-conductive fiber feed stock by increasing the conductivity of a roving raw material to a specific value, then cutting the resultant roving material into chopped fibers, passing the chopped fibers through an electric field and depositing the resultant chopped fibers on a transfer surface by actions of gravity. CONSTITUTION: The electric conductivity of strands 40 and 41 is increased from 0.2 picosiemens to 10 nanosiemens and the strands 40 and 41 are then cut into chopped fibers with a chopper gun 23, dropped by gravity and deposited on a transfer belt 25. A conveyor deck 26 is insulated and highvoltage conductive rods 27, 28 and 29 are kept in a mutually electrically insulated state and a strong electric field is maintained among the mutual rods 27, 28 and 29 to orient the fibers.