JP3908782B2 - Cooling tank for long fiber reinforced resin structure and method for producing the structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cooling tank for cooling with liquid water while linearly passing through a molten resin impregnated fiber roving obtained by impregnating a molten resin into a fiber roving, and production of a long fiber reinforced resin structure using the cooling tank Regarding the method.
According to the present invention, a long fiber reinforced resin structure can be efficiently manufactured in an installation space without causing dents or increased fiber exposure on the side surface, and a large number of molten resin impregnated fiber rovings at the start of operation can be obtained. Easy to insert into the cooling bath.

In recent years, pultrusion molding has attracted attention as a method for producing a thermoplastic resin composition reinforced with long fibers. Among them, while drawing a continuous fiber bundle (also called fiber roving), a crosshead die is impregnated with a thermoplastic resin melt, then shaped into a desired shape through a shaping die, cooled, and pelletized. This technique is generally used.
In general, in order to cool the resin strands extruded from the shaping die, the resin strands are passed through a cooling tank filled with water. For this purpose, the extruded strands are turned by a roll or the like to change the water in the cooling tanks. This is accompanied by bending of the strands such as moving the inside of the cooling tank horizontally with the roll, changing the direction from the inside of the cooling tank with the roll, pulling it into the air, and drawing it horizontally with the roll again.
When cooling the molten resin-impregnated fiber roving, it is discharged from the shaping die because the reinforcing fiber is exposed to the surface or bent when bent into a desired shape such as a cylindrical shape through the shaping die. In order to cool the molten resin-impregnated fiber roving in a linear state, it has been conventionally cooled by air cooling or water spray. (See JP-A-63-132036 (FIG. 1)).
In the air cooling, there is no problem that dents are formed on the cylindrical side surface of the long fiber reinforced resin structure, but there is a problem that the length of the cooling equipment becomes long.
In addition, water spray uses high-pressure water droplets to increase cooling efficiency, but because the water droplets collide discretely, a large number of small dents are formed on the cylindrical side surface, and the rate at which the fibers are exposed to the surface However, the length of the cooling equipment alone is very long.
FIG. 1 is an apparatus for producing a long fiber reinforced resin structure using a conventional water spray cooling method.
The fiber roving 21 is opened flat by a fiber opening device 18 such as a roller pair, supplied to the inlet 19 of the crosshead die 13, and further opened in the crosshead die 13 by the molten resin supplied from the resin supply port 12. As the process proceeds, the resin is impregnated. The molten resin is supplied from an extruder (not shown) or the like.
The crosshead die 13 has, for example, a pair of undulating planar barriers in the take-off direction of the resin-impregnated fiber roving, and the pair of barriers has a structure in which a convex portion and a concave portion face each other to form a bottleneck. As a result, the resin impregnation is promoted, and the fiber roving 1 is uniformly impregnated with the resin.
The impregnated resin-impregnated fiber roving is shaped by a shaping die 15 and discharged as a molten resin-impregnated fiber roving 22, cooled and solidified by a cooling device 30 to become a resin-impregnated fiber roving 23, and a take-up device such as a belt pair. 16 and pelletized by the pelletizer 17.
FIG. 1 of JP-A-6-262624 discloses a technique for cooling a resin-impregnated fiber roving using a box-shaped cooling water tank. In this method, the molten resin-impregnated fiber roving is bent. Since it is supplied in water, the reinforcing fibers are exposed or broken on the surface.

An object of the present invention is to produce a long fiber reinforced resin structure by cooling it efficiently and spatially without causing dents or increased fiber exposure on the side surfaces.
As a result of intensive studies, the present inventors can solve the above-mentioned problems by using a cooling tank in which the molten resin-impregnated fiber roving 22 is linearly passed through the cooling tank 3 and cooled while overflowing water. As a result, the present invention has been completed.
That is, the first of the present invention is a cooling tank (3) for water cooling the molten resin impregnated fiber roving (22) discharged from the shaping die (15) of the long fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin structure manufacturing apparatus. Yes, the cooling tank (3) has a structure for overflowing water, and the molten resin-impregnated fiber roving (22) is linearly passed through the cooling tank (3) and cooled while allowing water to overflow. A cooling tank is provided.
2nd of this invention is the cooling tank (3) for water-cooling the molten resin impregnation fiber roving (22) discharged | emitted from the shaping die (15) of the manufacturing apparatus of a long fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin structure, A housing (4) having a side surface and a bottom surface, a water inlet (1) provided on the side surface or bottom surface of the housing (4), and a retracting side upper end (4a ′) of a retracting side surface (4a) of the housing (4) ) Formed on the drawing side water outlet (2b) formed on the drawing side upper end (4b ′) of the drawing side surface (4b) and the molten resin impregnated fiber roving (22) , The molten resin-impregnated fiber roving (22) is cooled with water while the resin-impregnated fiber roving (22) is linearly passed between the drawing-side water outlet (2a) and the drawing-side water outlet (2b) in the cooling tank (3). 23) is provided.
A third aspect of the present invention is provided on two or more drawing-side notches (8a) and a drawing-side upper end (4a ′) provided on the drawing-side upper end (4a ′) of the drawing-side side surface (4a). Two or more drawing-side notches provided on the drawing-side water outlet (2a) formed by the drawing-side dam plate (5a) and / or the drawing-side upper end (4b ′) of the drawing-side side surface (4b) A cooling tank according to the second aspect of the present invention is provided, comprising: (8b) and a drawing-side water outlet (2b) formed by a drawing-side dam plate (5b) provided on the drawing-side upper end (4b ′). .
4th of this invention is the cooling tank (3) for water-cooling the molten resin impregnation fiber roving (22) discharged | emitted from the shaping die (15) of the manufacturing apparatus of a long fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin structure, Case (4) having side surface and bottom surface, lid (5) provided above case (4) or on the top surface of case (4), water provided on side surface or bottom surface of case (4) The inlet side water outlet (2a) and the outlet side formed between the inlet side (1) and the upper side (4a ') of the inlet side (4a) of the side of the inlet side (4a) of the housing (4) and the lid (5). It consists of a drawing-side water outlet (2b) formed between the drawing-side upper end (4b ') of the side surface (4b) and the lid (5), and the molten resin-impregnated fiber roving (22) is connected to the cooling tank (3). The molten resin-impregnated fiber line is passed through in a straight line between the inlet side water outlet (2a) and the outlet side water outlet (2b). Ring (22) with water cooling to provide a cooling bath to obtain a resin-impregnated fiber rovings (23).
The fifth aspect of the present invention is a drawing-side water outlet formed by two or more drawing-side notch portions (8a) and a lid (5) provided on the drawing-side upper end portion (4a ′) of the drawing-side side surface (4a). (2a) and / or a drawer-side water outlet formed by two or more drawer-side notches (8b) and a lid (5) provided on the drawer-side upper end (4b ') of the drawer-side surface (4b) A cooling tank according to the fourth aspect of the present invention comprising (2b) is provided.
6th of this invention is the shape of the drawing-in side water outlet (2a), or the shape of both the drawing-in side water outlet (2a) and the drawing-out side water outlet (2b) is one horizontal hole opened in the horizontal direction. A cooling tank according to the second or fourth aspect of the present invention is provided.
A seventh aspect of the present invention is the cooling tank according to any one of the first to sixth aspects of the present invention, wherein the length in the vertical direction of the drawing-side water outlet (2a) and the drawing-side water outlet (2b) is 2 to 100 mm. provide.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the water dispersing means (6) is further provided between the water inlet (1) and the water outlet (2) comprising the inlet side water outlet (2a) and the outlet side water outlet (2b). The cooling tank in any one of the 1st-7th of this invention obtained is provided.
A ninth aspect of the present invention is the cooling tank according to any one of the first to eighth aspects of the present invention, comprising a water circulation device (7) for circulating part or all of the water overflowing from the water outlet (2). I will provide a.
The tenth aspect of the present invention provides the cooling tank according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, which has a cooling device (8) for cooling the water to be circulated.
The eleventh aspect of the present invention is a molten resin-impregnated fiber roving (22) in which the distance d between the drawing-in water outlet (2a) and the drawing-out water outlet (2b) of the cooling tank (3) passes through the cooling tank (3). When the linear velocity of
d (unit: m) = f (unit: minute) × v (unit: m / min)
(Here, f is 0.01 to 0.1.)
The cooling tank according to any one of the first to tenth aspects of the present invention is provided.
A twelfth aspect of the present invention provides the cooling tank according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects of the present invention, wherein an aerator (9) is provided above the water dispersion means (6).
The long fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin structure in which the molten resin-impregnated fiber roving (22) is cooled with water at 0 to 90 ° C using the cooling tank (3) according to any one of the first to twelfth aspects of the present invention. A manufacturing method is provided.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional long fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin structure production apparatus.
FIG. 2 (a) is a longitudinal sectional view in the longitudinal direction of an example of the cooling tank (with a lid) of the present invention.
FIG.2 (b) is the front view seen from the drawing-in side water outlet 2a side of the said cooling tank.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view in the longitudinal direction of another example of the cooling tank of the present invention (with an edged lid).
FIG. 4 (a) is a longitudinal sectional view in the longitudinal direction of another example (without a lid) of the cooling tank of the present invention.
FIG. 4 (b) is a front view of the cooling tank as viewed from the side of the inlet side water outlet 2a.
FIG. 4 (c) is a perspective view of the cooling tank.
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view in the longitudinal direction of another example of the cooling tank of the present invention (installed with a notch and a weir plate).
FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view of a longitudinal sectional view in the longitudinal direction of another example of the cooling tank of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 water inlet, 2 water outlet, 2a drawing side water outlet, 2b drawing side water outlet 3 cooling tank, 4 housing, 4a drawing side side, 4a 'drawing side upper end 4b drawing side upper side, 4b' drawing side upper end, 5 Lid, 5a Pull-in side dam plate 5b Pull-out side dam plate (not shown), 6 Water dispersion means, 7 Water circulation device 8a Pull-in side notch, 8b Pull-out side notch (not shown),
9 Aerator, 12 Resin supply port, 13 Crosshead die,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Shaping die, 16 Taking-out apparatus, 17 Pelletizer, 18 Opening apparatus 19 Inlet, 21 Fiber roving, 22 Molten resin impregnation fiber roving 23 Resin impregnation fiber roving, 30 (Conventional system) cooling apparatus

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 (a) is a longitudinal sectional view (showing the traveling direction of resin-impregnated fiber roving) of an example of a cooling tank according to the present invention, 3 is a cooling tank, and 4 is a casing of the cooling tank. . There is no restriction | limiting in particular in the shape of the housing | casing 4, Although a rectangular parallelepiped or a cylinder may be sufficient, Preferably it is a rectangular parallelepiped. Hereinafter, a rectangular parallelepiped will be described as an example for easy understanding.
The casing 4 has a side surface and a bottom surface, the top surface is open, 5 is a lid provided on the top surface of the cooling tank as required, 1 is a water inlet of the cooling tank, and 2 is water of the cooling tank. The water outlet 2 includes a drawing-side water outlet 2a into which the molten resin-impregnated fiber roving 22 is drawn and a drawing-side water outlet 2b from which the cooled molten resin-impregnated fiber roving 23 is drawn out. In the figure, the shape of the water outlet 2 can be regarded as one horizontal hole opened in the horizontal direction, and is collectively referred to as a horizontal hole.
The lid 5 may be a lid that is completely separated from the housing 4 and provided above the housing 4, and the side surface of the housing 4 is not shown in FIG. 2 (b). It may be extended and connected to the side end of the lid 5. FIG. 2 (b) is a front view of the cooling tank 3 according to the present invention as viewed from the side of the inlet water outlet 2a.
FIG. 4 shows that the drawing-side water outlet 2a is formed at the drawing-side upper end portion 4a ′ by providing the drawing-side side surface 4a lower than the both side surfaces without providing the lid 5, and similarly. This is an example in which a drawer-side water outlet 2b is formed at the drawer-side upper end 4b ′ of the drawer-side surface 4b. FIG. 4 (a) is a longitudinal sectional view in the longitudinal direction, and FIG. 4 (b) is a front view seen from the drawing-side water outlet 2a side. The lid 5 is not necessary, but a cover such as a lid or a sheet may be provided to prevent dust and the like from being mixed.
FIG. 5 shows a drawing-side notch 8a provided on the drawing-side upper end 4a 'of the drawing-side side surface 4a and a drawing-side dam plate 5a on the drawing-side upper end 4a'. Is an example where the water outlet side 2a is drawn. The number of notches 8a is 1 or more, and is usually a number corresponding to the number of molten resin-impregnated fiber rovings 22 that have come out from a large number of holes in the shaping die, and can be adjusted to various shaping dies and operating conditions. As such, a larger number of holes may be provided.
Similarly, a drawer-side notch 8b (not shown) is provided on the drawer-side upper end 4b ′ of the drawer-side side surface 4b, and a drawer-side dam plate 5b (not shown) is provided on the drawer-side upper end 4b ′. Each drawer-side notch 8b may be a number of drawer-side water outlets 2b. However, since the molten resin-impregnated fiber roving 22 is cooled and solidified at the drawing-side water outlet 2b, the drawing-side water outlet 2b may be a single horizontal hole.
In this way, by providing a large number of discrete notch portions 8a on the drawing side, a large number of molten resin-impregnated fiber rovings 22 can be cooled without contacting each other.
The cross-sectional shape of the notch 8a and the notch 8b is not particularly limited, such as a semicircle, a triangle, and a square. The notches 8a may be in contact with each other or may be separated by a flat surface or the like.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a longitudinal sectional view in the longitudinal direction of an example in which a drawing-side notch 8a is provided on the drawing-side side surface 4a of the cooling tank 3 of the present invention. The drawing-side cutouts 8a having a semicircular cross section are provided discretely.
The height of the weirs of the drawing side dam plate 5a and the drawing side dam plate 5b may be the same, or the drawing side dam plate 5a may be made higher or lower. In addition to using the notch as the water outlet 2, water may overflow from the top of the dam plate. Further, the lid 5 can be used in place of the barrier plates 5a and 5b.
The water supply position is not particularly limited, and the water inlet 1 may be provided on the bottom surface of the housing 4, on the side surface, or on the opened upper portion of the housing. The water inlet 1 may be one place or a plurality of places, and may be provided on the bottom surface, on the side surface, or on both sides.
Moreover, in order to form a desired water flow in the cooling tank 3 as needed, it may be provided at a position near the drawing-side water outlet 2a or a position near the drawing-side water outlet 2b.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as water used, The water used by the conventional spray type is used.
The shape of the inlet side water outlet 2a may be one horizontal hole or a multi-stage horizontal hole opened in the horizontal direction, a plurality of holes arranged in the horizontal direction, or a plurality of holes arranged in the horizontal direction in multiple stages.
The dimensions of the drawing-side water outlet 2a and the drawing-side water outlet 2b are such that the length in the vertical direction of the drawing-side water outlet 2a and the drawing-side water outlet 2b is 2 to 100 mm. There is no particular limitation on the width of the. Even when the lid 5 is provided, the vertical interval between the housing 4 and the lid 5 is 2 to 100 mm corresponding to the length in the vertical direction.
In the case of a large number of holes formed with notches, the cross-sectional area of the holes is 1.5 to 10,000 times the cross-sectional area of the molten resin-impregnated fiber roving 22.
The shape of the drawing side water outlet 2b may be the same as or different from the shape of the drawing side water outlet 2a. Even if the shape of the drawing side water outlet 2a is a large number of holes, the shape of the drawing side water outlet 2b is compatible. Or a single horizontal hole.
In the case of a single horizontal hole, the cooling water is most preferably overflowed from the entire surface of the hole, and is overflowed so that the water surface comes at least above the position of the fiber roving.
In the case of a large number of holes, the cooling water is most preferably overflowed from the entire surface of the hole, and when a weir is provided, there may be water that overflows over the weir as described above.
A water dispersion means 6 may be provided between the water inlet 1 and the water outlet 2, if necessary, so that water at a uniform temperature contacts the molten resin-impregnated fiber roving 22 at a uniform flow rate. Examples of the water dispersion means 6 include a dispersion plate such as a perforated plate, a perforated nozzle, a slit, a pipe grid, and a mesh, and a filler such as a ring, saddle, and terralet filled on the dispersion plate.
In addition, you may provide the baffle plate 6 ', the baffle 6 ", etc. for forming a desired water flow in the cooling tank 3 as needed.
An aerator 9 having a large number of air blowing holes on the surface may be provided above the water dispersing means 6 to release air in a dispersed manner to reduce the amount of water or to stir the water.
Further, the water that has entered from the water inlet 1 does not allow the water at a uniform temperature to contact the entire molten resin-impregnated fiber roving 22, but first reaches the inlet side water outlet 2 a side of the cooling tank 3, and the molten resin-impregnated fiber. Even if the roving 22 is cooled in a forward flow and the flow is mainly discharged from the draw-out side water outlet 2b, it first reaches the draw-out side water outlet 2b of the cooling tank 3, and the molten resin-impregnated fiber roving 22 is cooled in a countercurrent flow. The flow may be mainly discharged from the water inlet side 2a side.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view in the longitudinal direction of another example of the cooling tank 3 of the present invention. The water inlet 1 is provided in the vicinity of the bottom of the side surface of the housing 4 on the resin-impregnated fiber roving 23 side, and is raised by the rectifying plate 6 ′ and the baffle 6 ″ to contact the resin-impregnated fiber roving.
The lid 5 is provided with bent portions on the drawing-side water outlet 2a side and the drawing-side water outlet 2b side so that the drawing-side water outlet 2a and the drawing-side water outlet 2b are below the top surface of the lid 5, You may make it prevent a contact with the top | upper surface of resin-impregnated fiber roving.
In FIG. 3, for example, the length of the bent portion on the drawing-side water outlet 2a side is made shorter than the length of the bent portion on the drawing-side water outlet 2b side so that it is difficult to come into contact with the molten resin-impregnated fiber roving 22. Good.
The amount of water discharged from the drawing-side water outlet 2a may be the same as or different from the amount of water discharged from the drawing-side water outlet 2b. For this reason, the opening area of the drawing-in side water outlet 2a and the opening area of the drawing-out side water outlet 2b may be changed so that a large amount of water is discharged from either side.
In FIG. 3, for example, the opening area of the drawing-side water outlet 2b may be reduced so that the flow in the tank is directed to the drawing-side water outlet 2a.
The molten resin-impregnated fiber roving 22 may be cooled by a single cooling tank 3, or a plurality of cooling tanks 3 may be arranged in series in multiple stages, separated from each other or adjacent to each other. In the present invention, one cooling tank 3 and a group of cooling tanks 3 arranged in series in multiple stages are both referred to as the cooling tank 3.
When the linear velocity of the molten resin-impregnated fiber roving passing through the cooling tank 3 is v, the interval d between the drawing-side water outlet 2a and the drawing-side water outlet 2b is empirically expressed by the following equation, and f is 0 0.01 to 0.1, preferably 0.015 to 0.08, and more preferably 0.02 to 0.06.
d (unit: m) = f (unit: minute) × v (unit: m / min)
In the present invention, the resin-impregnated fiber roving 23 is obtained by cooling and solidifying the molten resin-impregnated fiber roving 22 with water at 0 to 90 ° C., preferably 10 to 70 ° C. The molten resin-impregnated fiber roving 22 is preferably cooled without contact with the thickness of the molten resin when it is brought into contact with water in a substantially hydrostatic pressure state (that is, a state where pressure is uniformly applied around the roving).
According to the present invention, since water droplets of excessive pressure do not collide with the molten resin, it is possible to eliminate dents in the cross section of the resin-impregnated fiber roving 23. Further, the fiber exposure rate on the side surface of the resin-impregnated fiber roving 23 is improved.
The water overflowing from the water outlet 2 may be used as it is, but is preferably cooled and reused.
As a cooling method, either a method using an internal heat exchanger provided in a cooling tank or a method using an external heat exchanger may be used.
Alternatively, the casing 4 has a predetermined height without using a heat exchanger, and the cooling water obtained by dropping the water overflowing from the water outlet 2 and exchanging heat with the outside air is supplied to the casing 4. You may make it the structure which collects in the water reservoir arrange | positioned around the lower part, and circulates cooling water from the water inlet 1 through a filter as needed.
1, the fiber roving 21 is supplied to the inlet 19 of the crosshead die 13, the molten resin is supplied to the resin supply port 12, and the resin is added to the fiber roving in the impregnation unit 14. It is impregnated and drawn out as a molten resin-impregnated roving 22 from a shaping die 15 provided at the outlet of the crosshead die 13.
It is preferable that the fiber roving 21 is opened in a planar manner by a fiber opening device 18 such as a pair of rollers that sandwich the fiber roving 21 in advance so that the resin is easily impregnated.
Actually, for example, 30 fiber rovings are combined into one bundle every five fiber rovings, and 6 bundles are opened by a roller pair.
The fiber roving is tensioned one by one up to the roller pair, and a plurality of fiber rovings may be bundled in the die or may pass through the die one by one.
The impregnation part 14 may have only a narrow crosshead structure in which the fiber roving 21 is impregnated with the resin, but may have a broad crosshead structure including a part that promotes the subsequent uniform impregnation of the resin.
The impregnation part 14 is not particularly limited, such as a combination of barriers or a combination of a barrier and a fixing bar.
Examples of the barriers include a pair of flat barriers that wave in the take-off direction of the resin-impregnated fiber roving.
The shaping die 15 is usually provided with many shaping holes. In general, in a crosshead die, a large number of fiber rovings are supplied, and several are combined into one impregnation fiber roving, and several such impregnation fiber rovings are arranged in a plane. Accordingly, in the shaping die 15, for example, shaping holes are arranged in a horizontal row.
The resin is impregnated into a resin-impregnated fiber roving having a desired cross-sectional shape by the shaping hole 5 and is shaped into a desired shape such as a strand shape, a tape shape, or a sheet shape.
The crosshead die and the shaping die are preferably temperature controlled. The temperature control detects the temperature in the die, for example, the temperature near the resin supply port, and performs heating corresponding to the set temperature. The heating means to be used is not particularly limited. For example, the heating means mounted in the die such as a method of mounting a heating means by electric heating in the die, a method of circulating the heat medium in the die, or the outside of the die There is a method of heating with infrared or hot air. Among these, it is preferable to heat from inside or outside the die by electric heating.
The molten resin-impregnated fiber roving 22 coming out of the shaping die 15 is cooled by the cooling tank 3 according to the present invention provided in the next step, and the resin is solidified to obtain the resin-impregnated fiber roving 23.
In the next step of the cooling bath 3, a take-up device 16 is provided. Although there is no restriction | limiting in particular as the take-up apparatus 16, Preferably a belt pair is mentioned. By rotating the resin-impregnated fiber roving 23 while being sandwiched between the belt pairs, the resin-impregnated fiber roving 23 is fed backward, that is, acts as a pulling force toward the front, whereby the fiber roving 21 is supplied to the crosshead die 13 and the crosshead It moves through the die and is impregnated with resin and pulled out.
The discharged resin-impregnated fiber roving 23 can be directly transferred to a molding process or the like as a strand, but generally, a pelletizer 17 is provided in the next process of the take-up device 16 for use in injection molding or the like. It is cut into a predetermined length to obtain long fiber reinforced resin pellets or short fiber reinforced resin pellets. Preferably, it is a long fiber reinforced resin pellet.
The length of the long fiber reinforced resin pellet is 3 to 50 mm, preferably 5 to 40 mm, and more preferably 5 to 30 mm.
If the length of the pellet is too shorter than the above range, the characteristic of long fiber reinforcement is impaired. If the pellet length is too long, a bridge is caused by a hopper of an extruder or the like when used for molding, and the supply tends to be troubled.
The fiber / resin weight ratio in the resin-impregnated fiber roving 23 is 70% / 30% to 20% / 80%, preferably 65% / 35% to 25% / 75%, more preferably 63% / 37% to 30% / 70% (where the total of fiber and resin is 100%).
If the impregnation ratio of the resin to the fiber is less than the above range, the resin cannot be sufficiently impregnated, and if it exceeds the above range, it is not economical.
The material of the fiber roving used in the present invention is not particularly limited. For example, glass fibers such as E-glass and D-glass; carbon fibers such as polyacrylonitrile, pitch, and rayon; boron fibers and mineral fibers Inorganic fibers; metal fibers such as stainless steel and brass; ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fibers, polyoxymethylene fibers, polyvinyl alcohol fibers, liquid crystalline aromatic polyester fibers, polyethylene terephthalate fibers, poly p-phenylene terephthalamide fibers, poly m-phenylenes Examples thereof include organic fibers such as aramid fibers such as isophthalamide fibers, polyacrylonitrile fibers, cellulose fibers such as cotton and jute; or a mixture thereof.
Any fiber roving can be used as long as it is continuous fibers such as roving and yarn. In the present invention, these are collectively called roving.
Further, these fibers may be treated with a surface treatment agent in order to improve the adhesion to the resin. Such a reinforcing fiber bundle is preferably preheated and then brought into contact with the resin melt prior to impregnation with the thermoplastic resin melt in the cross head, and a tension roll or the like It is preferable to open the fiber with a fiber opening device.
The resin material may be any kind of resin such as crystalline resin, non-crystalline resin, biodegradable resin, non-biodegradable resin, synthetic resin, natural resin, general-purpose resin, engineering resin, polymer alloy, etc. Good. For example, polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene; polyvinyl chloride; polystyrene; aromatic polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate; aliphatic polyesters such as polyethylene succinate, polybutylene adipate and their caprolactone terpolymers; Polyamides such as nylon 6, nylon 66, nylon 11, nylon 12, nylon 610, nylon 612, nylon 46; polyacetal, polycarbonate, polyurethane, polyphenylene sulfide, polyphenylene oxide, polysulfone, polyether ketone, polyether amide, polyether imide Engineering resins such as These resins may be used in combination of two or more. The resin is preferably a resin having a high molecular weight that is usually used for various molding processes such as injection molding and extrusion molding, and when the fiber is impregnated with the resin, a resin that exhibits a sufficient reinforcing effect by itself.
In addition, the long fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin structure according to the present invention includes, as necessary, resin additives and fillers, for example, antioxidants, heat stabilizers, stabilizers such as ultraviolet absorbers, antistatic agents, Lubricants, plasticizers, mold release agents, flame retardants, flame retardant aids, crystallization accelerators, colorants such as dyes and pigments, and fillers such as talc can also be blended. These can be used in a form pre-blended with the thermoplastic resin 2.
The present invention can also be applied to a continuous fiber-impregnated film or die for sheet molding and a continuous fiber-impregnated pipe molding die.

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.
In this example, the following were used.
Resin: As a resin for impregnation, a mixture of 98% by weight of homopolypropylene (melt index 60 g / 10 min) and 2% by weight of maleic anhydride-modified polypropylene 2% was used.
Reinforcing fiber: As a glass fiber roving, a bundle of 4000 single glass fibers having a diameter of 17 μm (sizing-treated product) was used.
Example 1
The cooling tank has a structure as shown in FIG. 2. The length of the cooling tank, that is, the distance between the inlet side water outlet 2a and the outlet side water outlet 2b is 0.6 m, and each of the water outlets 2a and 2b is a single unit. One horizontal hole has a hole width of 15 cm, a hole height (vertical length) of 1 cm, and a cooling bath depth of 10 cm.
Cooling water uses ion-exchanged water, is supplied from a water inlet provided at the center of the bottom at 25 ° C. and 10 liters / minute, is raised through a perforated plate, and is discharged from the inlet side water outlet 2a and the outlet side water outlet 2b. I let you.
Using the above cooling tank, the other parts using a normal long fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin structure manufacturing apparatus, supplying four glass fiber rovings, opening, and then melting the above polypropylene from an extruder Supply and impregnate the resin into the fiber roving at 200 to 220 ° C. through the crosshead die, take the molten resin impregnated fiber roving 22 from the shaping die (hole diameter 3 mm) at 15 m / min, and to 80 to 90 ° C. in the cooling bath Water-cooled, air-cooled and dried, then cut with a pelletizer to obtain pellets having a glass fiber concentration of 50% by weight. There were no irregularities on the surface of the pellet, and no fibers were exposed.
(Comparative Example 1)
Instead of the cooling tank, a conventional water spray type cooling device (cooling part length 2.0 m) is provided, and 25 ° C. ion-exchanged water is supplied at 30 liters / minute and cooled in the same manner as in Example 1. went. Unevenness was observed on the surface of the pellet, and the fiber was partially exposed. In addition, a large amount of water supply was necessary.
(Example 2)
Taking out the molten resin-impregnated fiber roving 22 using a cooling tank having the same structure as in Example 1 except that the length of the cooling tank, that is, the interval between the drawing-side water outlet 2a and the drawing-side water outlet 2b is 1.0 m. The same operation as in Example 1 was performed except that the speed was changed to 30 m / min.
As a result, no irregularities were found on the surface of the pellet, and no fibers were exposed.

  According to the present invention, the long fiber reinforced resin structure can be manufactured by efficiently cooling the installation space without causing dents or increase in fiber exposure on the side surface, Since it is easy to insert the molten resin impregnated fiber roving into the cooling tank, it is also easy to switch during production of other varieties.

Claims (13)

It is a cooling tank (3) for water-cooling the molten resin impregnated fiber roving (22) discharged from the shaping die (15) of the production apparatus for the long fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin structure, and the cooling tank (3) is water Has a structure that overflows,
A cooling tank, wherein the molten resin-impregnated fiber roving (22) is linearly passed through the cooling tank (3) and cooled while overflowing water. A cooling tank (3) for water-cooling a molten resin-impregnated fiber roving (22) discharged from a shaping die (15) of an apparatus for producing a long-fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin structure, and having a side surface and a bottom surface (4),
A water inlet (1) provided on the side surface or bottom surface of the housing (4) and a water inlet (2a) on the drawing side formed on the drawing side upper end (4a ′) of the drawing side surface (4a) of the housing (4). ) And a drawer-side water outlet (2b) formed at the drawer-side upper end (4b ') of the drawer-side surface (4b),
The molten resin-impregnated fiber roving (22) is passed through the molten resin-impregnated fiber roving (22) in a straight line between the drawing-side water outlet (2a) and the drawing-side water outlet (2b) in the cooling tank (3). A cooling tank that is cooled with water to obtain a resin-impregnated fiber roving (23). Two or more drawing side notches (8a) provided on the drawing side upper end (4a ') of the drawing side surface (4a) and a drawing side barrier plate (5a) provided on the drawing side upper end (4a') ) And / or the drawing side water outlet (2a) and / or the drawing side upper end (4b ') of the drawing side surface (4b). Drawer-side water outlet (2b) formed by a drawer-side dam plate (5b) provided on the section (4b ')
The cooling tank according to claim 2, comprising: A cooling tank (3) for water-cooling a molten resin-impregnated fiber roving (22) discharged from a shaping die (15) of an apparatus for producing a long-fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin structure, and having a side surface and a bottom surface (4),
A lid (5) provided above the housing (4) or on the top surface of the housing (4);
Between the water inlet (1) provided on the side surface or the bottom surface of the housing (4) and the upper end portion (4a ') of the retracting side surface (4a) of the side surface of the housing (4) and the lid (5) A drawing-side water outlet (2b) formed between the drawing-side water outlet (2a) and the drawing-side upper end (4b ') of the drawing-side side surface (4b) and the lid (5),
The molten resin-impregnated fiber roving (22) is passed through the molten resin-impregnated fiber roving (22) in a straight line between the drawing-side water outlet (2a) and the drawing-side water outlet (2b) in the cooling tank (3). A cooling tank that is cooled with water to obtain a resin-impregnated fiber roving (23). A drawing-side water outlet (2a) formed by two or more drawing-side notches (8a) and a lid (5) provided on the drawing-side upper end (4a ′) of the drawing-side side surface (4a), and / or Drawer-side water outlet (2b) formed by two or more drawer-side notches (8b) and a lid (5) provided on the drawer-side upper end (4b ') of the drawer-side surface (4b)
The cooling tank according to claim 4. The shape of the drawing-in water outlet (2a) or both the drawing-side water outlet (2a) and the drawing-side water outlet (2b) are one horizontal hole opened in the horizontal direction. The cooling tank described. The cooling tank according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the length of the drawing-side water outlet (2a) and the drawing-side water outlet (2b) in the vertical direction is 2 to 100 mm. Furthermore, the water dispersion | distribution means (6) was provided between the water inlet (1) and the water outlet (2) which consists of a drawing side water outlet (2a) and a drawing side water outlet (2b). The cooling tank in any one of. The cooling tank according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising a water circulation device (7) for circulating part or all of the water overflowing from the water outlet (2). The cooling tank according to claim 9, further comprising a cooling device (8) for cooling the water to be circulated. The distance d between the drawing-side water outlet (2a) and the drawing-side water outlet (2b) of the cooling tank (3) is set to v the linear velocity of the molten resin-impregnated fiber roving (22) passing through the cooling tank (3). In case,
d (unit: m) = f (unit: minute) × v (unit: m / min)
(Here, f is 0.01 to 0.1.)
The cooling tank according to claim 1. The cooling tank according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein an aerator (9) is provided above the water dispersion means (6). Production of a long fiber reinforced thermoplastic resin structure in which the molten resin impregnated fiber roving (22) is cooled with water at 0 to 90 ° C using the cooling tank (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 12. Method.

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