KR20070024532A - Gel coated reinforced composite - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of forming a gel coated article, the method comprises thermoforming a reinforced thermoplastic substrate sheet into a desired shape wherein the resulting desired shape having a residual void content at least at the surface thereof. The desired shape is molded together with a gel coating material to form a adherent bond between said gel coating material and the desired shape wherein said gel coating material permeates into the desired shape and is cured to form a mechanical bond therewith. ® KIPO & WIPO 2007

Description

Gel Coated Reinforced Composites {GEL COATED REINFORCED COMPOSITE}

In the economics of the market for an aesthetic composite structure comprising a substrate and an aesthetic surface layer, it is often preferred to use a thermosetting resin system as the substrate. Low raw material and tool costs are often cited as supporting factors for the selection of thermosets. However, the use of thermosets can produce volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and generally has a long cycle time.

For example, a commonly used method of manufacturing aesthetic components involves a two-step procedure, which creates a thermoplastic surface layer using traditional thermoforming methods, injects or sprays thermoset material behind the surface layer, and then cures in place. To create a two-layer structure having a reinforced sub-layer and a thermoplastic surface layer. Many thermosetting systems and methods are used to make reinforced bottom-layers. These include, for example, spray glass fiber reinforced plastic (FRP), resin transfer molding, vacuum-injection and various reinforced foam in situ techniques.

US Pat. No. 4,356,230 to Emanuel et al. Describes a method for transferring a coating from a mold surface to a substrate during casting and solidification of molded parts. Toman US Pat. No. 4,742,121 describes gel coating formulations that are typically applied by spraying.

It is desirable to produce composite gel coated composite materials having the stiffness and low CTE required for many structural applications. It is desirable to produce adhesive gel coated articles by methods that produce low VOC emissions and have short cycle times. Another desirable property is gel coating as an aesthetic layer with high surface quality, excellent mechanical adhesion and minimized wrinkles and partial defects.

Summary of the Invention

Embodiments of a method of making a gel-coated product include thermoforming the reinforced thermoplastic substrate sheet into the desired shape. In one embodiment, the shape has an initial void extending inwardly from the surface region. It is desirable to mechanically bond the article and gel coating by leaving voids in the article prior to curing the thermosetting gel coating material. The surface area is contacted with the gel coating material. The voids should be sufficient to allow the gel coating material to penetrate at least into the surface area. The desired shapes are cast together with the gel coating material such that an adhesive bond is formed between the gel coating material and the desired shape. The gel coating material penetrates into the desired shape and cures to form a mechanical bond therewith. According to one embodiment, the fiber-reinforced material may be a lightweight fiber-reinforced plastic material having sufficient pore content to allow vacuum to be applied through the molded substrate. According to another embodiment, the fiber-reinforced material may be a dense material that may initially have little or no surface voids but will acquire surface voids during the molding or casting process. Typically, such surface voids or surface roughness can be achieved through lofting the fibers contained in the substrate material. Molded substrates with adjacent gel coating materials are cast together to create an adhesive bond between the gel coating material and the molded substrate. According to one embodiment, the reinforced thermoplastic substrate sheet has sufficient pore content to allow vacuum to be applied therethrough. According to one embodiment, different gas pressures are used to make shaped substrates.

Another embodiment of a method of making a layered product includes heating the substrate sheet to a temperature sufficient to loft the fibers of the substrate sheet; Placing the substrate sheet against the membrane assisted pressure box; Pushing the substrate sheet onto the mold to produce a molded substrate; Placing the gel coating material adjacent to the molded substrate; Casting the molded substrate and the gel coating material to form an adhesive bond. Another embodiment includes using a paired tool for manufacturing.

Those skilled in the art will recognize and understand the above described and other features from the following detailed description, the drawings, and the appended claims.

Reference is now made to the drawings, which are illustrative embodiments in which like elements are similarly numbered.

1 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary gel coated plastic reinforced article.

2 is a cross-sectional view of an example substrate that must be thermoformed with a paired tool.

2A, the right part, is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary substrate and membrane assisted vacuum / pressure apparatus that must be thermoformed.

3 is a casting system using a gel coating material for casting to a molded substrate.

Disclosed herein is a method of making a gel coated layered product comprising a substrate having an open-cell structure. It is to be understood that the term "open cell" as used herein, has its original meaning and describes a cell in fluid communication with an adjacent cell such that fluid is in communication from one surface to the opposite surface. The term “thermoforming” and its various modifications have their original meaning and are used herein to generally describe how to heat and mold the sheet to the desired shape. Thermoforming methods and tools are described in detail in DuBois and Pribble ("Plastics Mold Engineering Handbook", 5th edition, 1995, pages 468-498).

The term "layer" is used herein for convenience and includes sheets and films as well as materials with irregular shapes. The terms "first", "second", and the like are used to distinguish one element from another rather than to indicate any order, quality or importance, and the singular form is not intended to limit the quantity herein. It should also be noted that there is more than one. In addition, all ranges disclosed herein can be generic and combined (eg, "up to about 25 weight percent, about 5 to about 20 weight percent is preferred, and about 10 to about 15 weight percent is more preferred. "Includes endpoints and all intermediate values of this range, such as" about 5 to about 25 weight percent, about 5 to about 15 weight "and the like).

The method disclosed herein is particularly useful for making articles comprising a gel coating material disposed on an open cell, fiber-reinforced thermoformable substrate. The gel coating preferably serves as the surface layer of the substrate and is selected to be compatible with the substrate.

Substrate materials include thermoplastics. Exemplary thermoplastics include polypropylene, polycarbonate (PC), polyester, polyetherimide (PEI), polyarylene ether, and the like, and mixtures including one or more of these thermoplastics, such as PC / PET blends. Include. Linear or branched aromatic polycarbonates can be used. In one embodiment, 2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane ("bisphenol A"), bis (2-hydroxyphenyl) methane, 1,1-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl)- 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane, fluorenone bisphenol, 1,1-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) ethane, 2,6-dihydroxynaphthalene, bis (3,5-diethyl-4 One or more of -hydroxyphenyl) sulfone, 2,2-bis (3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxyphenyl) propane, 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl ether, spiro biynein bisphenol Polycarbonates comprising units derived from can be used. Suitable thermoplastic polyesters are, for example, poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET), poly (1,4-butylene terephthalate) (PBT), poly (trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT), poly (ethylene naphthalate) (PEN), poly (butylene naphthalate) (PBN), poly (cyclohexanedimethanol terephthalate), poly (cyclohexanedimethanol-co-ethylene terephthalate) (PETA) and poly (1,4- Poly (alkylene dicarboxylates) such as cyclohexanedimethyl-1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate) (PCCD); Poly (alkylene areneioate); And mixtures comprising at least one of the polyesters.

In an exemplary embodiment, gel coating 10 typically comprises a colored, pre-promoted resin that can be sprayed. Unsaturated polyesters mixed with unsaturated aromatic monomers such as styrene can be used for the preparation of crosslinked polymers initiated by peroxides. Unsaturated polyesters can be prepared from condensation of unsaturated acids or acid anhydrides with polyols. The most common unsaturated acids used are maleic anhydride or fumaric acid. In order to improve the hydrolysis resistance, vinyl esters produced from the reaction of aromatic polyepoxides and unsaturated monocarboxylic acids can be used. Other systems described in Toman's US Pat. No. 4,742,121 include urethane polyesters with various pendant unsaturations, isocyanate-functional acrylic systems, graft copolymer systems with acrylic backbone and alkyd resin chains, and aromatic polyepoxys. Vinyl esters based on side resins. The patent describes acrylate resins having a plurality of carbon-to-carbon bond unsaturations attached to the polymer chain. The description of gel coating resins described in columns 1 to 10 of US Pat. No. 4,742,121 is incorporated herein by reference. Other gel coating systems can be based on epoxy polymers.

The plastic material of the substrate has sufficient binding capacity to provide sufficient structural integrity to the substrate for its thermoforming. For example, the substrate can include fiber and thermoplastic (s) such that the substrate can be placed and thermoformed in a thermoforming system. In other exemplary embodiments, the substrate can include fibers, thermosetting material (s) and reagents that maintain the structure of the substrate in the desired form (eg, sheet) such that the substrate can be placed and thermoformed in a thermoforming system. have.

The fibers used in the substrate are selected such that fiber-reinforced plastics, optionally open cell-type fiber-reinforced plastics materials, are made. Fiber type, size, amount, and the like may vary depending on the plastic material used to make the substrate. In an exemplary embodiment, the fibers are selected to impart the desired pore volume to the substrate. To obtain the desired mold replica and the desired pore volume, the fibers can be lofted (eg, expanded in the z-direction when heated). Exemplary fiber types include glass fibers (eg, E-glass (“electrical glass”, eg borosilicate glass), S-glass (“structural glass”, eg magnesia / alumina / silicate glass), etc.), minerals, and the like. Fibers, polymeric fibers, natural fibers, and the like, and mixtures comprising one or more of the above fibers. Optionally, the fiber diameter (width) may be about 6 to about 25 μm. Optionally, the fiber length can be about 2 to about 75 mm.

The fiber-reinforced plastic material of the substrate comprises an amount of plastic material and fibers sufficient to provide the substrate with the desired structural integrity and void volume. For example, a fiber-reinforced plastic substrate may comprise from about 25 to about 75 weight percent of plastic material, in particular from about 35 to about 65 weight percent, and more particularly from about 40 to about 60 weight percent of plastic material. Can be. Together with the plastic material, the fibers can be used at about 25 to 75% by weight, in particular about 35 to about 65% by weight, more particularly about 40 to about 60% by weight. Weight percent is based on the total weight of the fiber-reinforced plastic substrate.

Examples of suitable commercially available substrate materials include polypropylene, polycarbonate (eg, LEXAN® from General Electric Company), polyester [eg, VALOX of General Electric Company] (Trademark)], polyetherimide (eg, ULTEM® of General Electric Company), polyarylene ether [eg, polyphenylene ether; Azdell, Incorporated, having a variety of matrices, including but not limited to General Electric Company's PPO® resins, polystyrenes, polyamides, and / or mixtures comprising one or more of the above These include, but are not limited to, AZDEL® SuperLite® and Azdell® glass mat thermoplastics (GMT) available from Shelby, NC It is not limited to.

For example, the substrate can be prepared according to the Wiggins Teape method (e.g., discussed in US Pat. Nos. 3,938,782; 3,947,315; 4,166,090; 4,257,754; and 5,215,627). For example, to produce a mat according to Wigginstipe or a similar method, fibers, thermoplastic (s) and any additives are weighed and dispersed into a mixing tank equipped with an impeller to produce a mixture. The mixture is pumped through the distribution manifold to the head-box. The head box is located above the wire section of a machine of the type used for papermaking. Vacuum is used to pass the dispersed mixture through a moving wire screen to create a uniform fibrous wet web. The wet web is passed through a dryer to reduce the moisture content and, if thermoplastics are used, to melt the thermoplastic (s). A nonwoven scrim layer is attached to one or both sides of the web to facilitate handling of the substrate (eg, imparting structural integrity to the substrate with a thermoset material). The substrate can then be passed through a tension roll and cut (cut) to the desired size.

According to the method, the substrate is thermoformed into a shape substantially corresponding to the shape of the desired end product. Generally, thermoforming includes heating the material continuously or simultaneously and molding it on a mold, where the material is originally in sheet form and molded into the desired shape. After obtaining the desired shape, the molded article is cooled below its solidification temperature or glass transition temperature. In general, any thermoforming method can be used that can produce a shaped substrate having a pore content sufficient to be able to draw a vacuum through the substrate, for example, a pore content of at least about 5% by volume. For example, suitable thermoforming methods include, but are not limited to, mechanical molding (eg, paired tool forming), membrane assisted pressure / vacuum forming, membrane assisted pressure / vacuum forming with plug assist, and the like. .

In a paired tool method of shaping a substrate, it is sufficient to reach the softening point (which may be referred to as the forming temperature) so that the substrate can be physically shaped (ie, work-molded). Heat at a temperature sufficient for such time. Note that the substrate may be heated in a variety of ways, such as in a radiant thermoforming oven, which may include top and / or bottom heaters. The substrate is then placed between the male forming tool and the female forming tool. Under the pressure sufficient to mold the substrate to the desired shape while maintaining the aforementioned pore content, the male and female molding tools are physically held together via a stop (placed at the peripheral edge of each tool). Contact with. Suitable pressures depend on the particular substrate composition and are readily determined by one skilled in the art without overly experimenting. However, it is noted that the use of excessive pressure should be avoided because excessive pressure may cause some or all of the cells to approach the desired pore content, resulting in insufficient porosity of the substrate.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a cross-sectional view of a paired tool forming is shown. Typically, a clamp is used to hold the heated substrate sheet 50 in place with respect to the male forming tool 52 and the female forming tool 54. The male forming tool and the female forming tool are configured to "pair" (ie, complementary) to each other. The male forming tool and the female forming tool may each optionally include a plurality of holes. A hanger (spacer) is arranged around the male forming tool and the female forming tool, which is used to determine the thickness of the molded substrate. The catch is located outside the forming zone. The male tool and the female tool consist of a material compatible with the substrate material. For example, the tool may be comprised of, but not limited to, aluminum, steel, epoxy, silicone rubber, filled tool resin, and the like.

During molding, the substrate is heated to a temperature sufficient to thermoform and preferably sufficient to loft the fibers of the substrate. For example, a temperature of about 450 ° F. (about 232 ° C.) to about 700 ° F. (about 371 ° C.), more specifically about 550 ° F. (about 288 ° C.) to about 650 ° F. (about 343 ° C.) It is suitable for thermoforming a reinforced polycarbonate substrate sheet. The heated substrate is then molded by relatively moving the male tool and the female tool such that the latch is in contact. By sandwiching the substrate sheet between the male tool and the female tool, the substrate sheet is shaped like the shape of the male tool and the tool. The substrate may then be cooled to produce a shaped substrate. Azdell® Superlight® substrates using pressures from about 1 atmosphere (about 101 kPa) to about 10 atmospheres (about 1013 kPa), more particularly about 1 atmosphere (about 101 kPa) to about 5 atmospheres (507 kPa). Molded.

In the membrane-assisted vacuum / pressure shaping method, the heated substrate is placed opposite the pressure box 58. Simultaneously apply vacuum and pressure to the substrate. More specifically, a vacuum is drawn through the forming tool and a positive pressure is applied to the membrane 56 face opposite to the face closest to the forming tool. The direction of vacuum and pressure is schematically indicated by arrows in FIG. 3. The vacuum applied through the mold pulls the sheet into / up (afterwards up) the mold. Suitable pressures (positive and negative) depend on the particular substrate and are readily determined by one of ordinary skill in the art without undue experimentation. In addition, as indicated above, excessive pressure should be avoided because excessive pressure can cause some or all of the cells to close, resulting in insufficient porosity of the substrate.

3 schematically illustrates a membrane assisted vacuum / pressure shaping method. The heated substrate 24 is placed between the pressure box 22 and the forming tool 20. The forming tool may be a male forming tool or a female forming tool, but the forming tool is shown as a male forming tool. The forming tool includes a hole such that a vacuum can be applied through the forming tool. Clamps may be used to hold the substrate sheet in place against the pressure box and the forming tool. The membrane, more specifically the non-permeable membrane 26, is stretched across the opening of the pressure box. As discussed above, the first surface of the substrate is in physical contact with the forming tool by a vacuum drawn through the molding tool, while the second surface is in physical contact with the membrane. Pressure is applied from the membrane side to the membrane. Since the substrate is, as discussed, an open cell, fiber-reinforced thermoplastic having a pore content of at least about 5% by volume, vacuum is drawn directly through the substrate. In that state, the membrane is used to push the substrate onto the forming tool (ie, vacuum is drawn through the substrate, and positive pressure from the pressure box pulls the membrane, thus the substrate, toward the tool as it pushes the membrane towards the tool). ). In other words, the vacuum cannot be drawn through the membrane. Rather, the vacuum pulls the membrane towards the molding tool as the pressure applied to the membrane forces the membrane towards the molding tool. After the substrate is placed on the forming tool, it is cooled to produce a molded substrate.

For example, when the Azdell® Superlight® is a substrate, the substrate is formed by applying about 0.5 to about 8 atmospheres to the membrane while drawing a vacuum through the molding tool 30. 20) More specifically, about 1 atmosphere (about 101 kPa) to about 3 atmospheres (about 304 kPa) may be applied to the membrane.

The thermoforming method described above is merely provided for illustrative purposes. It should be appreciated that the substrate can be prepared by any thermoforming method having a pore content that allows the resulting shaped substrate to apply a vacuum through the substrate.

After the substrate is thermoformed to produce a molded substrate, the molded substrate can be optionally trimmed to substantially the final shape of the desired product. Trimming may be performed before or after placing the gel coating on the molded substrate. Trimming methods may include, for example, laser trimming, water jet trimming, trim press trimming, and the like, and combinations including one or more of the above methods.

The thermoformed reinforced resin material is cast to create a structural bond between the reinforced resin material and the gel coating. Preferably, the gel coating penetrates into the open cell structure of the reinforced resin material to create an adhesive bond between the reinforced resin and the gel coating to form an integral laminate. The thermoformed laminate is trimmed to at least the approximate shape of the final product. The trimmed shape coincides with or is located in the steel of the casting tool. The gel coating material in uncured or slightly cured form is introduced into or over another part of the mold steel. The mold is closed until the gel coating material flows into the reinforced resin material and the gel coating material cures and bonds with the reinforced resin material. It is desirable to have a grade A surface to minimize glass read through and other surface defects. The interface comprises a gel coating material and a reinforced resin material. Open the mold and remove the structural part. The mold is typically made of a metal having high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum. The gel coating mold may be polyester based because no high temperature is required for the curing process.

Structural articles prepared using the materials and methods disclosed herein may include any use in which layered plastic articles may be advantageous. For example, products include, but are not limited to, interior and exterior materials for airplanes, automobiles (eg, passenger cars, trucks, motorcycles, etc.). For example, various components include, but are not limited to, panels, quarter panels, rocker panels, vertical panels, horizontal panels, fenders, headliners, doors, and the like.

Advantageously, the method disclosed herein simplifies the manufacture of decorative structural parts as compared to methods using thermoset materials. In various embodiments, the manufacture of these parts can proceed in a single forming station with greater efficiency than is currently possible. Methods using thermoforming have required a separate non-thermoforming step of placing the substrate or sub-layer on, eg, by spraying, on the molded layer (eg, molded gel coating). However, gel coatings can also be applied using thermoforming by using a substrate having a pore volume sufficient to draw a vacuum through the shaped substrate and draw another layer onto the substrate. Since the molded substrate can be manufactured on a male or female mold, the subsequent layer (eg gel coating) can be an aesthetic layer applied to the outer surface of the molded substrate.

This method can reduce the type of equipment used to produce these layered products, reduce manufacturing time and simplify the layered product manufacturing process. In addition, when this thermoforming method does not use a thermoset, the VOC emissions are drastically reduced, although not completely absent, compared to other methods using a thermoset. The relatively low pressure used in the methods disclosed herein also allows for relatively low tool costs. Finally, the porosity of the underlying substrate structure helps to reduce the thermo-elastic stresses generated during the attachment of the surface layer.

By way of example, and not by way of limitation, the process for producing the final structural aesthetic component is to produce a superlite® sheet of Azdell Inc. through a pressure, paired tool, vacuum or vacuum bag process. Include. By adjusting the pressure, significant voids are retained in the substrate. The composite preform is then placed into a paired tool with a thermosetting gel coating applied to one or both of the tools. The tool is then closed and a pressure of 1 to 500 psi is applied when the gel coating cures. Because of the porosity of the substrate, a significant gel coating can penetrate through the substrate and significantly bond the two layers mechanically.

Various thermoplastics such as polypropylene, nylon, lexan® polycarbonate, balox® polyester, Ultem® polyetherimide, noryl® polyphenylene ether resin or blend Superlite (R) sheets can be prepared from the matrix. Fully dispersed wet laminated chopped mats are typically used to make porous open cell reinforcements for thermoplastic composites. Proper selection of fiber type and geometry is necessary to achieve the desired porosity of the composite. These parameters depend on the specific system used. In addition, machining conditions and tools are adjusted during manufacturing to balance component porosity with substrate details and mechanical integrity. Typical fiber types include, but are not limited to, E-glass, S-glass and basalt. The fiber diameter is 6-25um. The fiber length is 2 to 50 mm in the commonly used wet laminate reinforcement structure. The resin content is 30 to 70% by weight depending on the combination of resin and reinforcement used. Casting or molding pressures are 1 to 10 atmospheres in these materials, and lower pressures are most useful for semi-crystalline systems. Higher pressures may be required for amorphous structures. Vacuum assist is often used to improve the details of molded parts and to prevent air entrainment during manufacturing.

More specifically, the article consists of a gel coating 10 on the reinforced porous thermoplastic substrates 14, 16. Because of the porosity of the thermoplastic substrate and the method of making the article, the gel coating and the substrate are mixed in significant amounts to form a strong mechanical bond. The system may or may not “balance” a film or gel coating 12 on the back of the structure.

1 shows a cross-sectional view of a multilayer material system. Typical thicknesses of the gel coating at the top 10 and, if necessary, at the bottom 12 are 0.025 to 2.5 mm, more particularly 0.25 to 1 mm. Typical thicknesses of the porous reinforced thermoplastic substrates 14, 16 are 1-10 mm, more specifically 2-5 mm. Depending on the amount of gel coating applied, tool dimensions and processing conditions, the gel coating can be injected through 1-100% of the thickness of the porous thermoplastic composite 14.

Superlite® sheets comprising a blend of glass fiber and Ultem® resin and Lexan® polycarbonate resin are heated in a thermoforming oven to 450-700 ° F. and transferred to a casting station where The material is molded using a paired tool or pressure forming technique. A positive pressure of 1 to 500 psi is applied and a vacuum of 0 to 14.7 psi is drawn. 2 illustrates a paired tool technique and a pressure forming technique.

The Superlite® resin preform is then removed from the tool, cooled and transferred to a gel coating step. Because of the material and process conditions, the preform retains some voids. The gel coating is sprayed on one or both sides of the paired tool fitted to the preform. The preform is moved to the tool, the tool is closed and a pressure of 1 to 250 psi is applied. Under pressure, the gel coating is cured until the final part can be removed immediately. 3 shows a gel coating process.

While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention, but to include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (13)

Molding the fiber reinforced thermoplastic substrate sheet into a desired shape; Contacting the surface area of the desired shape with a thermosetting gel coating material; Casting the desired shape and gel coating material together to form an adhesive bond between the gel coating material and the desired shape, wherein The gel coating material penetrates into the porous region adjacent the surface region of the desired shape, forming a mechanical bond there between, Wherein the porous region comprises pores resulting from residual pores or lofting of fibers, Method of Making Gel Coated Products. The method of claim 1, Performing the casting by closing a mold zone, wherein one of the mold zones comprises the gel coating material. The method of claim 1, The fiber has a fiber diameter of about 6 to about 25 μm and a fiber length of about 2 to about 75 mm. The method of claim 1, Wherein the gel coating material is a thermosetting resin material and wherein the gel coating material is cured during casting. The method of claim 1, Wherein the molded substrate is an open-celled fiber-reinforced plastic material. The method of claim 1, Wherein the substrate sheet comprises about 25 to about 75 weight percent plastic material, and about 25 to about 75 weight percent fiber, wherein the weight percent is based on the total weight of the substrate sheet. The method of claim 6, And wherein the substrate sheet comprises about 35 to about 65 weight percent plastic material, and about 35 to about 55 weight percent fiber. The method of claim 6, Wherein the plastic material is selected from the group consisting of polycarbonates, polypropylenes, polyesters, polyetherimides, polyphenylene ethers, polystyrenes, polyamides and mixtures comprising at least one of the foregoing. The method of claim 1, A method of thermoforming a substrate sheet by a plug-assisted membrane assisted vacuum pressure forming method. The method of claim 1, A method of thermoforming a substrate sheet by a plug-assisted membrane assisted vacuum pressure forming method. The method of claim 1, And heating the substrate to a temperature sufficient to thermoform the substrate sheet to loft the fibers. The method of claim 11, wherein Wherein the temperature is from about 450 ° F. (about 232 ° C.) to about 700 ° F. (about 371 ° C.). The method of claim 1, And the substrate sheet further comprises a nonwoven scrim disposed on the surface of the substrate sheet.

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