GB846778A - A method for producing glass-reinforced metal articles - Google Patents

Abstract

846,778. Casting composite articles. OWENSCORNING FIBERGLAS CORPORATION. Nov. 5, 1957 [Nov. 21, 1956], No. 34470/57. Class 83 (1). Glass-reinforced metal articles are made by forcing metal under pressure into contact with the fibrous glass reinforcement. Glass fibres 21, Fig. 1, are drawn from a glass-melting tank 20, are coated with molten metal such as aluminium from an applicator 23, and are wound on a collet 24 into a preform of metal-coated glass 27, Fig. 4, which is placed in a centrifugal casting mould. The mould may be heated to melt the metal, or additional molten metal may be added. The metal collet itself may form part of the preform- and be melted during the casting operation. In a modification, Fig. 5, a tube 34 containing fibrous &c. glass reinforcement 35 is supported in a rotatable mould 31, in packing material 36. A counterweight 37 is provided. The mould is rotated, and metal is poured into the tube 34. In a further modification, Fig. 6, bare or metal-coated glass fibres are thrown on to a rotating table 44, which projects them against a rotating collector 45 to form a cylindrical package 47 of fibres. A metal flame spray gun 46 may direct molten metal against the interior of the pack. The pack may consequently be shaped, as by extrusion, rolling or pressing. In another modification, Fig. 7, the centrifugal casting mould 52 has internal screw threads 58 so that material is urged to the bottom thereof during rotation. In a further modification, Fig. 9; glass reinforcement in fibre or flake form is held in a mould 60, to which vacuum is applied, so that molten metal enters the mould from a bath 62. Alternatively, molten metal is forced under pressure into a mould containing glass reinforcement.