| abstract |
A resin reinforced fiber structure is formed by drawing fibers under tension, in spaced relation to each other through a bath containing a molten heat curable resin, combining the fibers in mutual contact for removal of excess resin, spreading the fibers for passage through a preheating zone and then in a recombined state through a plurality of radiant heating zones and relatively narrow cold shaping dies in series. The preheating and heating zones provide heated surfaces in spaced relation to the resin coated fibers, effect a viscosity break to enable the resin to more completely wet the fibers and advance polymerization towards a gel point. The narrow cold shaping dies provide the desired shape to the final article and remove excess resin as cure is advanced. The fiber reinforced resin structure at about the resin gel point is passed through a final cold shaping die, and then to a final curing zone. |