CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority of United States Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 62/428,035 filed November 30, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention in general relates to fiber mat formation using bulk chopped fibers and in particular to using a blend of fibers to form chopped fiber perform mats for structural applications.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The economic and environmental pressures to produce vehicles that are lighter and stronger have only accelerated in the past few years. While weight savings were traditionally achieved by migrating from steel components to aluminum, even with the resort to newly engineered structures with reinforced stress points to account for the use of less metal, the ability to glean additional weight saving from aluminum components is diminishing. Sheet molding compositions (SMC) and resin transfer moldings (RTM) that are based on thermoset resin matrices have a lower inherent density than aluminum. The ability to mold complex components also represents a potential advantage of such materials over aluminum.

[0004] As a polymeric matrix of thermoset or thermoplastic with fiber reinforcement has attractive properties in terms of high strength to weight ratios. Sheet molding compositions (SMCs) have long been considered in automotive and aerospace applications as an alternative to metal body components. Similarly, thermoplastics with fiber reinforcements are able to meet performance requirements that could not be attained by thermoplastics absent such reinforcements. While there have been numerous attempts to develop models to create preforms, these have generally relied on a process of catching fibers from a slurry on a screen contoured in the shape of the desired preform, followed by a secondary drying to set the shape of the preform. Thermoplastic binders have been used in concert with heat to set the fibers in the preform shape. The preform is then subjected to optional trimming and impregnated with reactive resin through a reaction injection molding process to form a composite article. A molding technique is detailed, for example, in U.S. Patent 4,849,147. A lifting screen preform mold process and apparatus is provided for example in U.S. Patent 6,086,720.

[0005] To obtain reliable quality articles for automotive and other high stringency applications, it is important the fiber preforms and mats have piece-to- piece constituency and a uniform fiber density within various regions of the perform or mat. Typically, preforms tend to accumulate excess fibers proximal to edges while the center regions tend to be fiber deficient. This inhomogeneity in fiber density and also a degree of undesirable fiber preferential orientation are caused by fiber movement between contact with the preform mold screen and preform set of fiber position. While glass fibers are observed to have a nominal degree of fiber aggregation in a slurry that leads to the formation of an oriented clump of fibers being formed in a preform, these tendencies towards aggregation are more pronounced for other types of fibers such as carbon fibers and cellulosic- based fibers. While variant techniques have been explored, problems persist with slurry preform formation associated with limited throughout, and inhomogeneity of fiber densities within a preform.

[0006] The use of fiber inclusions to strengthen a matrix is well known to the art, and in the context of sheet molding composition (SMC) formulations and bulk molding composition (BMC) formulations; hereafter referred to collectively as "molding compositions", fiber strengthening has traditionally involved usage of chopped glass fibers. There is a growing appreciation in the field of molding compositions that replacing in part, or all of the glass fiber in molding compositions with carbon fiber. However, this effort has met with limited success owing to differences between glass and carbon fibers. Specifically, these differences include fiber diameter with glass fibers used in molding compositions having typical diameters of between 16 and 30 microns while carbon fibers typically have diameters of between 2 and 10 microns. Additionally, whereas glass roving fabrics, or bundles typically have tens to hundreds of individual fibers, carbon fiber tows typically come in bundles of thousands and even tens of thousands of individual fibers. A still further difference exists in the fiber-fiber interactions where glass fibers tend to scatter and debundle upon chopping, Van der Waals bonding and other inter-fiber surface interactions tend to make carbon fiber disinclined from debundling after chopping into desired lengths for use as reinforcement in a molding composition. While the debundling of carbon fiber tows is addressed in laboratory scale moldings through manual manipulation, problems exist for production scale debundling of carbon fiber tow into separate chopped carbon fibers.

[0007] Furthermore, difficulties have been encountered in producing mixed fiber resin matrix articles for the formation of a uniform layer of randomly oriented and intermixed glass fibers and carbon fibers. Similarly, the limited access to mixed fiber rovings and non-wovens has hampered efforts to reduce weight of vehicle body panels. Fibers for fiber reinforced resin molding are typically produced by chopping a tow formed bundles of long fiber lengths into preselected lengths. While glass fibers are usually produced in tows of a few hundred fibers and cut cleanly to produce individual fibers, carbon fibers as stated previously have diameters of about 2 to 10 micrometers, much smaller than glass fibers with diameters of 10 to 25 micrometers, and are manufactured in tows that contain tens of thousands of fibers. Owing to physical and chemical differences carbon fibers tend to form clumps of fibers rather than randomly oriented, individual fibers commonly observed with glass fibers.

[0008] Co-pending application 14/398,673 filed on May 1, 2013 entitled "Process of Debundling Carbon Fiber Tow and Molding Composition Containing Such Fibers", herein incorporated by reference provides a process and apparatus to debundle carbon fiber tow into separated chopped carbon fibers in a continuous manner, and facilitates interaction of carbon fibers with molding composition components to enhance the strength of a resulting SMC or BMC. However, debundling even with these processes remains elusive as solvents tend to create an environmental hazard and do not adequately wet and spread fibers that make up the tow.

[0009] Thus, there exists a need for a process to debundle a blend of fibers or a blend fiber tows into separated chopped fibers in a continuous manner to provide for an even distribution of fibers in a perform, mat, or molding composition to enhance the strength of a resulting SMC, BMC, thermoplastics, and a structure formed thereof. There further exists a need for a process and system that affords a homogenous layer of randomly oriented fibers across a desired lateral extent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] A process is provided for forming a mat containing a blended fiber filler. The process includes providing two or more different types of fiber tow, and feeding the two or more fiber types simultaneously to an automated cutting machine to produce chopped fibers that form the blended fiber filler. Subsequently, the chopped fibers are coated with a binder and other additives, and the coated and treated blended fibers are moved to a treatment chamber to form a blended fiber mat.

[0011] A system is provided for forming a blended fiber mat. The system includes two or more reels of different types of fiber tow, a tube with a cutting element configured to receive the two or more types of fiber tow to form chopped fiber from, a moving belt positioned under the tube to collect the chopped fiber exiting the tube under gravity, a dispenser positioned along the moving belt for applying a binder to the chopped fiber; and a treatment chamber that receives the chopped fiber coated with the binder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The subject matter that is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0013] FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a system showing the major functional blocks including a fiber dosing and cutting machine and a treatment chamber used in the practice of the invention;

[0014] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a fiber dosing and cutting machine according to the present invention operative in cutting and debundling fiber tow for disbursement in a perform mat or a composite material;

[0015] FIG. 3 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the system shown in FIG. 1 for producing a chopped fiber perform mat with the fiber dosing and cutting machine shown in FIG. 2 in accordance with embodiments of the invention;

[0016] FIG. 4 is a schematic of the entry portion of the conveyor equipped treatment chamber with a plasma generator source impinging on carbon fiber tow in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and [0017] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a process using a blend of fibers to form chopped fiber perform mats for structural applications in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The present invention has utility as a process and system for introducing a blend of chopped and dispersed fibers on an automated production line amenable for inclusion in molding compositions as a blended fiber mat for structural applications. The blend of fibers may include thermoplastic, glass, carbon, polyimides, polyaramides, polyesters, polyamides, and binder fibers. The blend of fibers may be simultaneously supplied to an automated cutting machine illustratively including a rotary blade chopper disposed above a vortex supporting chamber. In a specific inventive embodiment, the blended ratio of fibers may be as follows: thermoplastic fiber from 25% to 80% by weight, glass fiber from 0% to 70% by weight, carbon fiber from 0% to 70% by weight, and a binder in the range of 0% to 30% by weight. The blend of chopped fibers and binder may be used to form a chopped mat. The chopped mat may have a veil mat placed on either side. In specific embodiments the veiled mat may be formed of glass fiber, carbon fiber, thermoplastic fiber, or a combination thereof. The mat may be consolidated with the veil mat using heated rollers maintained at the softening temperature of thermoplastic binder, with consolidated mats being amenable to being stored in rolls or as flat sheets. A charge pattern may be made using the consolidated mat, which may be heated in an oven to a temperature at or higher than the melting point of the thermoplastic fibers. The preheated charge pattern may then be compression molded in a mold maintained at a temperature lower than the melting point of the thermoplastic fibers.

[0019] In a specific embodiment Curie fillers may be included in the mat for faster pre-heating. A Curie filler promotes rapid drying of the preform mat by thermal exposure. High thermal conductivity fillers operative herein illustratively include carbon fibers with values of 8-70 W/m-K (pan) and 20-1000 W/m-K (pitch), A1N 260 W/m-K, BN 300 W/m-K, graphite 600 W/m-K, or carbon black, alumina, or combinations thereof. Incorporating fillers with paramagnetic properties in the fiber matrix allows the preform to be heated rapidly by induction heating for rapid cure cycles and for improved fiber wet-out. The paramagnetic properties keeps the preform from overheating above the Curie temperature of the paramagnetic particle. Paramagnetic fillers of gadolinium and CrC with Curie temperatures of 292 and 386 Kelvin, respectively are used, each alone or in combination to promote self- limiting induction heating. High thermal conductivity fillers or paramagnetic fillers are present from 0.0001 to 5 total weight percent of the stack.

[0020] As used herein, the terms with respect to carbon fiber tow of "lofting" "debundling" and "spreading" are used synonymously. The "de-bundling" of the carbon fibers allow the resin matrix to "wet-out" the individual fibers more completely for better transfer of stresses in the final molded part thus rendering the part better able to withstand stresses and strains in normal usage. [0021] It is to be understood that in instances where a range of values are provided that the range is intended to encompass not only the end point values of the range but also intermediate values of the range as explicitly being included within the range and varying by the last significant figure of the range. By way of example, a recited range of from 1 to 4 is intended to include 1-2, 1-3, 2-4, 3-4, and 1-4.

[0022] As used herein, the tow volume is defined by the maximal area in a given cross section of tow multiplied by the length of the tow.

[0023] In certain inventive embodiments, the tow is a single carbon fiber; a single glass fiber tow, or a hybrid tow containing both glass and carbon fibers that is chopped and distributed. In still other inventive embodiments, multiple tows are simultaneously input, the multiple tows being carbon, glass, or a combination thereof. Typical lengths of chopped fibers used in the present invention typically range from 0.1 to 5 centimeters (cm). The diameters of fibers are appreciated to vary widely based on commercial sources with glass filler fibers having typical diameters of between 16 and 30 microns carbon fibers having typical diameters of between 2 and 10 microns. It should be appreciated that fiber dimensions outside of the aforementioned typical ranges exist and are intended to be within the scope of the present invention

[0024] The tow or tows are subjected to a cutting element that divides the tow into preselected lengths of cylindrical bundles of fibers. The cutting element includes a variety of conventional blades including a spinning chopper blade, a liner actuated chopper blade, a water jet, and a laser cutter. [0025] According to the present invention, chopped tow fibers are fed into a pressuring gas flow in a tube to induce a vortex of tumbling fibers. By controlling the time and rotation rate in the vortex, a desired degree of tow dispersion into small clusters of fibers, individual fibers or a combination thereof is obtained. The vortex formation dynamics are known to the art (M. F. Unal and D. Rockwell (1988). Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 190, pp 491-512). While the use of a cylinder as a tube is appreciated to offer advantages in terms of uniformity owing to the limited ability of swirling gas and fibers to form eddies therein and is uniform in vertical cross-section, it is appreciated that other tube shapes are also operative herein including spherical, hemispherical, conical, and polygonal cross-section shapes, where the cross-section is triangular, square, and higher order right polygons. Briefly, by directing a pressurized gas flow at and into a tube containing the chopped fibers with both rotary and vertical flow components, a vortex is formed. The dwell time of fibers in the cylinder may be extended to near infinite time by controlling the upward gas flow. In some embodiments, the tube itself is rotated as well to further enhance fiber debundling and mixing in the vortex.

[0026] Gases suitable for forming a vortex in a tube are limited only to compatibility with the fibers. Exemplary gases operative herein illustratively include air, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, noble gases, and a combination thereof. It is appreciated that in addition to debundling fibers, the tube is readily provided with electrodes, 24 in FIG. 2, to support an atmospheric pressure plasma to perform surface modification of the fibers during debundling. By way of example, surface functionality is added through plasma treatment during debundling or a fiber sizing is chemically modified to render the fiber more reactive toward a subsequently applied matrix. US Patent 9,149,834 is representative of such fiber modification.

[0027] In still other inventive embodiments, the gas flow entrains a stream of particulate fillers so as to form a debundled fiber mass that includes such filler particles interspersed therethrough. Particulate fillers that are entrained within such a gas flow illustratively include inorganic particles such as silica, carbon black, calcium carbonate, and hollow glass microspheres; synthetic organic particles such as polymeric beads of polystyrene, and hollow polymeric beads; and naturally occurring particles such as ground shells and husks of plants such as coconut, rice hulls, walnut shells; egg shells; and combinations thereof. Particles for entrainment are provided in a particulate reservoir 22 in FIG. 2 that meters particulate into a gas stream passing thereby.

[0028] Regardless of whether chemical modification occurs in the tube, the debundled fibers are gravity fed onto an underlying belt with a generally random fiber orientation in the plane defined by the belt. It is appreciated that such debundled fibers will tend to lay in the plane of the belt on initial deposition, defined a zero-degree angle relative to the belt plane, yet as the thickness of a layer of fibers builds on the belt, the average fiber angle of incline relative to the belt increases to values from greater than 0 to 60 degrees.

[0029] By sizing the tube relative to the width of the belt, a lateral distribution of fibers is obtained that varies by less than 20 fiber number percent across the width of the chopped fiber mass on the belt in some inventive embodiments. While in other inventive embodiments, the later distribution of fibers is less than 10 fiber number percent. It is appreciated that with resort to an inward angled rail, relative to the direction of movement of the belt, that fibers at the edges of the belt are preferentially urged inward to create a narrower lateral width of fibers on the belt, but a width that is more uniform. In some embodiments the tube is pivoted side to side relative to the direction of belt movement to vary the lateral distribution of chopped fibers on the belt.

[0030] The debundled fibers in some embodiments are chemically treated either within the tube or on the belt. Chemical treatments operative herein illustratively include silanes, silisequioxanes (SQs), and combinations thereof. It is appreciated that chemical treatments in some embodiments are accomplished with heating, actinic radiation, or plasma to promote bond formation between the additive and the fiber.

[0031] In some embodiments of the present invention, particulate filler is applied as a layer at this point in the belt transit. The particulate fillers including the aforementioned materials.

[0032] A binder may then be sprayed on the chopped fiber mass. It is appreciated that the fiber mass in some inventive embodiments is compressed prior to spray application of the binder. The binder is applied neat or a suspension or solvate in a solvent. Binders operative herein illustratively include powders, fibers, resins, and solvent sprays. Exemplary binders include latexes, epoxies, phenolic resins, polyesters, solvents that solubilize the thermoplastic fibers, and combinations thereof. It is appreciated that binder spray in some embodiments are accomplished with heating, actinic radiation, or plasma to promote bond formation between the binder and the fiber, which simply solubilizes or at least renders thermoplastic fibers tacky to induce joinder as the solvent is driven off.

[0033] Embodiments of the present invention provide an improved fiber dispersion in terms of lateral uniformity, randomness in the plane of the belt, inclusion of particulate therein, debundling, or a combination of any of the aforementioned as compared to existing processes. The control of fiber properties and the continuous production process to produce a binder retained fiber mass according to the present invention is then available in certain embodiments to be dispersed in molding composition formulations prior to formulation cure, as well as for use in perform mats for use in composite molds illustratively including SMC and resin transfer molding (RTM). Preform mats formed by the inventive process and system for thermoset resin composition molding that upon cure form a variety of molded and fiber reinforced articles. Such articles are used in a variety of applications such as vehicle components such as bed lines, body components, trim, interior components, and undercar components; architectural components such as trim and doors, marine components such as hulls, trim, and cockpit pieces; and similar structures in aerospace settings.

[0034] Referring now to the figures, FIGs. 1-3 illustrate a system 30 for forming blended fiber mats 44 for use in SMC and RTM. FIG. 1 is a function block diagram of the system 30 showing the major functional blocks including a fiber dosing and cutting machine 10 and a treatment chamber 34 with two or more sources of differing fibers 12. FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a fiber dosing and cutting machine and is shown generally at 10. Two or more differing fiber tows 12 are fed from feeder reels 13 into a cutting element 14 as detailed above for chopping the tow. The one or more fiber tows may be a mixture of glass, carbon, natural, and chemical based tows. The blended chopped fibers are dropped downward through a tube 16 under helical gas flow in a vortex to separate and disperse the chopped fibers 18 on to a moving belt 20. The tube 16 in some embodiments includes a plasma generation electrode set 24. As shown in the system view 30 in FIG. 3, the chopped fibers 18 exiting from the fiber dosing and cutting machine 10 and on to the moving belt are coated with a binder applied from a dispenser 32. The nature of the binder having been detailed above. It is appreciated that a similar dispenser to dispenser 32 is used to dispense a chemical additive prior to, or subsequent to the binder dispenser 32. Such additives include the aforementioned. While not shown for visual clarity, the application of a binder or an additive each independently is accompanied with an activation energy input such as a thermal source, a light source, or a plasma source. The treated fibers are then moved in to a treatment chamber 34 where the fibers are pressed with rollers 38 between the moving belt 20 and an upper moving belt 42 into a sheet or mat 44. The treatment chamber has a first heating section 36 that cures the chemically treated fibers, and a second cooling section 40 prior to the exit of the sheet or mat from the chamber 34. It is appreciated that the atmosphere in chamber sections 36 and 40 are each independently controlled and illustratively include air or inert gases of a preselected temperature. [0035] In an embodiment of an inventive apparatus that is shown in FIG. 4 generally at 50, two or more tows of differing fiber 52 are fed into a conventional chopper 54 at a preselected rate relative to the speed of operation of the chopper 54 to yield preselected lengths of blended fiber tow 52. These lengths of chopped carbon fiber tow 56 are collected on a conveyor 58 passing beneath the chopper 54. In some embodiments, the chopped lengths of tow 56 are further randomized as to position and orientation along the width of the conveyor 58 with resort to spreader 55. The one or more plasma generating sources 60 are mounted above the conveyor 58 such that the preselected lengths of chopped carbon fiber tow 56 are exposed to plasma generated by the one or more plasma generating sources 60. Under the influence of plasma 61 exposure the lengths of chopped carbon fiber tow 56 expand to more than 50 percent of the pre-plasma exposure to form a lofted tow 62 and in other embodiments to volumes of more than 200 percent of pre-plasma treatment sizes. In some embodiments the conveyor 58 has a width that ranges between 0.9 to 1.8 meters. The extent of the volume increase is controlled by factors including the ion energy of the plasma, the plasma flux, rate of conveyor movement, carbon fiber sizing identity, number of fibers in the tow, and proximity of plasma source to carbon fibers. In some inventive embodiments, hot plasma is used to effectively debundle both chopped carbon fibers and intact carbon fiber tows. The use of plasma for debundling carbon fibers is more fully described in a co-pending provisional application SN 62/427,989 filed November 30, 2016 entitled DISPERSED FIBER MAT FORMATION, and is included herein in its entirety by reference. [0036] In still other embodiments, one or more plasma generating sources 60' are provided in place of, or in concert with the one or more plasma generating sources 60. It is appreciated that the plasma generating source 60' is of the same type as a generator 60, or varied as to operational parameters to loft the tow 52 prior to entering the chopper 54. In an inventive embodiment, the carbon fiber tow 52 ranges at least 1,000 carbon fibers to at least 10,000 carbon fibers and in other embodiments 50,000 carbon fibers or even more fibers per tow. It is appreciated that the plasma generating source 60 emits a cylindrical plasma from a circular electrode, or a rectilinear volume of plasma from a race track-shaped annulus. The chopped carbon fiber obtained according to the present invention is then available in certain embodiments to be dispersed in sheets of molding composition formulations prior to formulation cure as the sheets move along a production line conveyor. Through control of the molding composition monomer polarity in a thermoset resin, still further dispersion and anisotropy of the chopped, plasma lofted carbon fibers is obtained.

[0037] In other inventive embodiments, the debundled fibers are conveyed into a rapid thermal multi-processing (RTM) system in general and specifically to mold corresponding to a carbon fiber pre-form or mat for an RTM molding. The debundled blended fibers of the present invention provide higher strength moldings. Without intending to be bound to a particular theory fiber wetting is enhanced by the inventive process.

[0038] The stability of the plasma, the heat stress on the fibers and particles, fiber and particle surface area, fiber and particle loading, and the homogeneity and quality of the activation of the fiber and particles are influenced by the pressure and gas flow conditions within the plasma and in the fluidized bed. Determination of a desired level of activation is measured by iteration with iodometry titration, or simply reaction with coupling agents to the activated particles and testing of final thermoset article properties. In some embodiments, in order to reduce the temperature further, to cool the gas during generation of the plasma, jacketed cooling tubes are employed that are charged with a suitable gaseous or liquid coolant. Air and water are exemplary gaseous and liquid coolant fluids.

[0039] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a process 100 using a blend of fibers to form chopped fiber perform mats for structural applications. The process starts with providing two or more different fiber tows (step 102) that will constitute the blended fiber content of the mat in desired weight proportions. Fiber tows may illustratively include thermoplastic, glass, carbon, and binder fibers. The various fiber tow are simultaneously fed to an automated cutting machine (step 104), and the resultant chopped blended fibers are coated with a binder and other additives and the blended fibers may be plasma treated (step 106). The coated and treated fibers are then moved to a treatment chamber to form a blended fiber mat (step 108). A veil mat is then applied to either side of the blended mat to form a consolidated mat (step 110). The consolidated mat is stored for later use as a charge pattern (step 112), and the process concludes.

[0040] The foregoing description is illustrative of particular embodiments of the invention, but is not meant to be a limitation upon the practice thereof. The following claims, including all equivalents thereof, are intended to define the scope of the invention.