| abstract |
Glass fibers are prepared with a chemical treatment resulting in chemically treated glass fibers having utility in reinforcing thermoplastic polymers such as polyolefins. The chemically treated glass fibers have a dried residue of an aqueous chemical treating composition having one or more amino organo coupling agents, an aqueous emulsion of an acid or anhydride modified polyolefin having one or more surfactants, wherein the polyolefin is neutralized with an organic or inorganic base with a basicity less than the basicity of the amino moiety of the coupling agent, a binder stabilizer, one or more film forming polymers, and water. The aqueous chemical treating composition is essentially free of cationic lubricants that are amidated fatty acids and polyvinyl acetate homopolymer. The chemically treated glass fibers can be prepared in a wet chop or dry chop process, wherein the chopped glass fiber strands eventually have a moisture content of less than 20 weight percent prior to volatilization of the formed moisture. The chemically treated glass fibers are used to reinforce thermoplastic polymers such as polyolefins and particularly polypropylene in any molding operation to produce glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic articles. |