Abstract:
A method for molding large parts, comprises the steps of providing a reinforced plastic melt (41) comprising at least one thermoplastic material and reinforcement particles dispersed within the at least one thermoplastic material, the reinforcement particles comprising less than 15% of a total volume of the plastic melt, at least 50% of the reinforcement particles having a thickness of less than about 20 nanomenters, and at least 99% of the reinforcement particles having a thickness of less than about 30 nanometers; communicating a tubular formation of the plastic melt to a mold assembly having a mold cavity (44) defined by mold surfaces (43), the mold surfaces (43) corresponding to a configuration of the part to be molded; applying pressurized gas to an interior of the tubular formation to expand the tubular formation into conformity with the mold surfaces (43); and solidifying the plastic melt to form the part; and removing the part from the mold assembly.
Abstract:
A reinforced molded article having reinforced protrusions extending from the surface of the article is suitable for molding into automobile trim. The article comprises at least one thermoplastic; about 2 % to about 15 % by volume reinforcing particles having one or more layers of 0.7 nm-1.2 nm thick platelets, wherein more than about 50 % of the reinforcing particles are less than about 20 layers thick; whereby the reinforcing particles reinforce a protrusion from the surface of the molded article, the protrusion having a thickness of less than 1/10 inch. A method of producing reinforced articles comprising this reinforced protrusion is also disclosed.
Abstract:
A method of producing reinforced articles comprises (a) preparing a powder composition of at least one thermoplastic and about 2 % to about 15 % by volume reinforcing particles. The reinforcing particles are substantially uniformly dispersed in the thermoplastic. At least 50 % of the reinforcing particles are less than about 20 layers thick, the layers of the reinforcing particles having a unit thickness of between about 0.7 nm - 1.2 nm; (b) heating the powder into a molten material; (c) rotating the molten material in a mold cavity so that the molten material conforms to the surfaces of the mold cavity, the molten material having substantially the same uniformity of dispersion of the reinforcing particles therein in comparison with the uniformity of dispersion of the reinforcing particles in the thermoplastic powder; and (d) cooling the molten material to form a reinforced article.