TWI729521B - An equipment and method for producing fiber reinforced composite with more stable yarn spreading and resin impregnating abilities - Google Patents

Abstract

Present invention is related to an equipment for producing fiber reinforced composite with more stable yarn spreading and resin impregnating abilities. The said equipment comprises a resin powder impregnating tank and a forming device being set up adjacently. The resin powder impregnating tank has a tank with multiple poles on its side wall and multiple gas inlets deposited on its bottom. The tank is configured with a heating device and/or a vibrating structure and/or a stirring device. By using the heating device and/or the vibrating structure and/or the stirring device, resin powder in the tank of the resin powder impregnating tank can continually maintain fluidized phenomenon to achieve more stable yarn spreading and resin impregnating abilities for producing fiber reinforced composite.

Description

Equipment and method for improving fiber yarn bundle spreading stability and resin impregnation

A device and method for impregnating fiber yarn bundles with resin, in particular to a device and method capable of improving the stability of fiber yarn bundles and their resin impregnation.

Fiber-reinforced resin is a kind of composite material widely used nowadays. Through the combination of resin and fiber, the strength and applicability of the resin are greatly increased. It is commonly used in various aviation, military, automotive, electronic or civilian products and supplies.

Among fiber-reinforced composite materials, the most common type is carbon fiber or glass fiber reinforced thermosetting resin composite material. Because thermosetting resin needs to be dissolved in a solvent during the manufacturing process, its fluidity is high, so the impregnation between resin and fiber With good performance and easy manufacturing process, it has been widely used in industry for a long time. However, with the rising awareness of environmental protection in modern society, there are a large number of volatile solvents in the process of thermosetting resin composite materials, the finished product and scraps cannot be recycled, and the thermosetting resin needs to be frozen and stored. Therefore, thermoplastic resins have appeared. Fiber-reinforced composite materials, using thermoplastic resins that are recyclable, reusable, re-processable and easy to store, have now partially replaced thermosetting resin fiber-reinforced composite materials and are used in bicycles, automobiles, and sports goods industries.

On the other hand, the melt fluidity of thermoplastic resin is not good. Therefore, when making thermoplastic resin fiber reinforced composite materials, it is easy to cause pores between the resin and the fiber due to poor impregnation, and these pores will cause damage to the product. Material defects. In the process of unidirectional fiber prepreg (UD prepreg), the yarn spreading technology is usually used to spread the single fiber yarn bundle, so that the thermoplastic resin can be impregnated into the fiber and improve the impregnation. For example, the patent number of the Republic of China No. I574831 and I655081 use the plural air inlet holes at the bottom of the impregnation tank to float and fluidize the powder, so that the powder impacts the yarn bundle and enters into the fiber to generate appropriate friction, expand the yarn bundle, and allow resin to enter To the fiber, increase the impregnation between fiber and resin. However, the control technology of the spreading stability will affect the spreading state of the fiber. If the spreading is incomplete or the spreading overlaps, it will also lead to the decrease of resin impregnation, and how to effectively and uniformly impregnate the thermoplastic resin The inter-fiber is also a big problem. Therefore, at this stage, it is necessary to provide an equipment and process that can significantly improve the spreading and impregnation of this fiber resin composite in the process.

In view of the current existing fiber-reinforced resin manufacturing technology, especially for various problems such as poor impregnation and fiber spreading properties, the present invention provides an equipment for improving fiber yarn bundle spreading stability and resin impregnation. It includes a powder impregnation tank and a thermal processing molding device arranged in sequence, wherein: the powder impregnation tank includes a barrel, a plurality of yarn spreading rods arranged in the barrel, and the bottom of the barrel A plurality of air inlets; the barrel is provided with a heating device and/or linked with a vibration mechanism and/or is provided with a stirring device; and the thermal processing forming device is a double steel belt hot press or a heating press roller or includes at least A heated cluster die.

Wherein, the powder impregnation tank is further connected with an air extraction device, and the air extraction device is used to adjust the pressure inside the powder impregnation tank.

Wherein, the heating cluster die head includes a cluster die head, and the cluster die head includes at least one cluster winding channel.

Wherein, the cluster winding channel has a tapered channel.

Wherein, the end of the cluster winding channel is further equipped with a molding die, and the molding die includes a smaller diameter than the cluster winding channel.

Wherein, a cooling mechanism, a drawing mechanism and a cutting machine are further provided after the heating and clustering die head.

Wherein, a heating oven is further arranged before and/or after the powder impregnation tank.

Further, the present invention also provides a method for improving the spreading stability and resin impregnation of fiber yarn bundles, the steps of which include: immersing a fiber yarn bundle into a fluidized resin powder contained in a powder impregnation tank ; Heat the powder impregnation tank and/or shake and/or stir the powder impregnation tank to maintain the resin powder in a fluidized state; the powder impregnation tank spreads the fiber yarn bundle and distributes the resin powder Impregnating the surface of the fiber yarn bundle; and thermally processing the fiber yarn bundle after spreading the yarn cloth.

Preferably, the thermal processing molding system heat-rolls the fiber yarn bundle into a sheet.

Preferably, the thermal processing molding system winds the fiber yarn bundle into a columnar wire.

Preferably, the columnar wire is further cut and pelletized after cooling.

Preferably, the fiber yarn bundle is further heated before and/or after the fiber yarn bundle enters the powder impregnation tank.

Preferably, the method of heating the powder impregnation tank is to directly heat a barrel of the powder impregnation tank containing the resin powder or heat to cause the resin powder to produce a high-pressure gas that is fluidized.

Preferably, a plurality of yarn spreading rods are arranged in the barrel of the powder impregnation tank, and the height of the yarn spreading rods can be adjusted during the manufacturing process.

Preferably, the pressure in the powder impregnation tank can be adjusted.

Preferably, before the multiple yarn bundles enter the powder impregnation tank, a creel is further used to adjust the tension and spacing of each yarn bundle.

According to the above description, the present invention has the following advantages:

1. The present invention uses a powder impregnation tank to spread yarn and cloth fiber yarn bundles. During the process, the barrel of the powder impregnation tank is vibrated and/or stirred at the right time to ensure that the resin powder can maintain a good fluid. At the same time, it can be matched with heating means to control the humidity of the resin powder in the powder impregnation tank, so that the fluidization behavior can be continued and stabilized, and the spreading of the fiber yarn bundle and the coating amount of the resin powder can be uniform.

2. In addition to the application of the present invention to single fiber yarn bundles, it is also suitable for spreading yarn fabrics of multiple yarn bundles, especially when multiple yarn bundles are spread at the same time, which tends to hinder the fluidization behavior of resin powder after the yarn bundles are spread. In addition, the powder is easy to accumulate on the yarn bundles. By adjusting the tension of the yarn bundles and the appropriate spacing between the yarn bundles, the invention can simultaneously and stably unfold multiple yarn bundles by adjusting the heating, vibrating or stirring functions of the new powder impregnation tank. . The volume of the powder impregnation tank equipment does not need to be too large to achieve a good effect of spreading yarn and fabric.

A preferred embodiment of a device for improving the spreading stability of fiber yarn bundles and resin impregnation. Please refer to Figure 1. The device of the present invention preferably includes a fiber creel 10 and a pretreatment in sequence according to the requirements of a continuous process. A heating oven 20, a powder impregnation tank 30, a post-processing heating oven 40, and a thermal processing forming device 50.

A fiber yarn bundle F. The fiber yarn bundle F can be a single fiber yarn bundle or multiple fiber yarn bundles. The yarn creel 10 is firstly mounted on the creel 10, and the creel 10 is preferably provided with a plurality of adjustable guide rods ( (Not shown in the figure), the fiber yarn bundle F is placed on the adjustable guide rod to facilitate the subsequent processing of the yarn spreading device. The purpose of the creel 10 is to adjust the tension of the fiber yarn bundle F and the distance between the yarn bundles.

The fiber yarn bundle F from the creel 10 then enters the pre-treatment heating oven 20 to remove the sizing agent or moisture on the surface of the fiber yarn bundle F for subsequent use in the yarn spreading step, because it is generally commercially available Fiber yarn bundles, especially the surface of carbon fibers, contain sizing agent. If the yarn is spread directly, it is easy to cause sticking, which makes the fiber yarn bundle F difficult to spread, which affects the uniformity and thickness of the fiber yarn after spreading. Before spreading the yarn fabric, remove the sizing agent and moisture on the surface of the fiber yarn bundle F to avoid the influence of the surface sizing agent on the spreading effect. The pre-treatment heating oven 20 can be, but is not limited to, a hot air, electric heating plate, electric heating tube or infrared lamp (IR lamp) type heating oven or desizing furnace. The pre-treatment heating oven 20 of the present invention is not a necessary equipment. It mainly depends on the type of the fiber yarn bundle F and the sizing agent contained in it. It depends on whether it needs to be installed, or even the present invention can adapt different brands and sizing agents. The fiber yarn bundle F of the agent completely and partially removes the slurry and moisture, which can affect the subsequent spreading width, and the spreading width affects the amount of resin powder of the fiber yarn bundle F, which can control different fiber yarns. The ratio of the bundle F to the resin powder P.

Please refer to FIG. 2, the fiber yarn bundle F removed from the surface sizing agent and moisture further enters the powder impregnation tank 30 to spread yarn and fabric. The powder impregnation tank 30 at least includes a barrel groove 31, a plurality of yarn spreading rods 33 arranged in the barrel groove 31, and a plurality of air inlet holes 35 arranged at the bottom of the barrel groove 31. Wherein, the barrel groove 31 is used to contain a resin powder P, preferably a thermoplastic resin powder, and a plurality of the yarn spreading rods 33 are preferably horizontally arranged on the side wall of the barrel groove 31, which is used for Spread the fiber yarn bundle F into a plurality of fibers. A high-pressure gas supply source (not shown in the figure) sprays a high-pressure gas G into the barrel 31 through the air inlet 35, so that the resin powder P is fluidized and spread on the fiber yarn bundle F of the spread yarn. On the surface, the high-pressure gas supply source can be an air compressor. In addition, the present invention is compared with the existing technology that only installs a tension roller (or guide rod or roller) in the powder tank to achieve the effect of spreading yarn cloth. It simply uses the tension roller (or guide rod or roller). Rod) because the resin powder in it is not flowing, it will produce large resistance to the fiber yarn bundle, which is easy to cause serious friction between the resin powder/spreading guide rod/fiber yarn bundle, which is easy to cause fluffing and yarn breakage. , And as the fiber yarn bundles take away the resin powder, the resin powder in the tank is lacking or partially accumulated, causing problems such as uneven powder coating on the fiber yarn bundle. Therefore, in the present invention, the air inlet 35 is provided through the bottom of the powder impregnation tank 30, so that the resin powder P can be fluidized, so that the resin powder P floats and fluidizes, and the fiber yarn bundle F is reduced. The resistance when entering the resin powder P prevents the fiber yarn bundle F from causing yarn breakage due to excessive friction, and the resin powder P fluidized by the high-pressure gas G will impact the fiber yarn bundle F and enter it Between the fibers, proper friction is generated to expand the fiber yarn bundle F, and when the resin powder P is taken away in the groove, due to the fluidization relationship, the other resin powder P will immediately fill in the lack of powder. Position so that the amount of powder on the fiber yarn bundle F is uniform.

Further, the yarn spreading rod 33 can preferably adjust the height of the fiber yarn bundle F in the groove of the barrel groove 31 in the process of spreading yarn and fabric, and adjust the fiber yarn The tension of bundle F makes the effect of spreading yarn and fabric better.

The tank 31 is preferably linked with a vibration mechanism 37. For example, the tank 31 is set on a vibration platform, so that the tank 31 can vibrate in time when the resin powder P is filled and the high-pressure gas G is sprayed. , Reduce the tunneling effect and accumulation of the resin powder P, continue to maintain the fluidization effect of the resin powder P, and promote the resin powder P to be distributed on the surface of the fiber yarn bundle F. On the other hand, in addition to the aforementioned method of generating vibration through the vibration mechanism 37 to reduce powder tunneling and accumulation, the resin powder P can also be stirred by a stirring device (not shown) to achieve the same purpose. In addition, in order to keep the resin powder P at a low water content, reduce moisture absorption and regain, avoid its agglomeration and affect the fabric and the quality of the composite semi-finished product produced by the process, the tank 31 can be heated by a heating device or The heated high-pressure gas G is poured in to maintain a low water content state. The aforementioned so-called heating device is preferably a gas heating mechanism, such as a fin-type electric heating tube. Furthermore, the present invention can further adjust the air pressure in the barrel 31 through an air extraction device (not shown) after the barrel 31 is covered, for example, to maintain a negative pressure in the barrel 31, so as to reduce In addition to the environmental pollution caused by the dust of the resin powder P, it can also balance the air pressure in the powder impregnation tank 30 and the direction of stable airflow, so that the resin powder P that has been coated on the fiber yarn bundle F is not covered by Blowing off causes fabric failure or powder loss.

The fiber yarn bundle F coming from the powder impregnation tank 30 and being spread yarn and cloth further enters the post-processing heating oven 40 for heating, and can mainly temporarily fix the resin powder cloth on the surface of the fiber yarn bundle F Body P, so that the resin powder P will not fall due to contact or vibration in subsequent equipment, which will affect the effectiveness of the fabric. The post-treatment heating oven 40 can be, but is not limited to, a heating oven of hot air, electric heating plate, electric heating tube or infrared lamp (IR lamp tube) type. Similarly, the post-processing heating oven 40 of the present invention is not a necessary equipment, and the author can set it according to actual needs to increase the cloth effect of the resin powder P.

Then, the fiber yarn bundle F further enters the thermal processing forming device 50 to be processed and formed. The thermal forming device 50 of the present invention mainly has two preferred embodiments. First, please refer to Figure 3, the first preferred embodiment is that the thermal processing molding device 50 includes a heating cluster die head, the heating cluster die head is mainly used to spread the yarn and fabric after the fiber yarn bundle F It is rolled into a columnar wire, and the columnar wire is preferably a cylindrical or elliptical columnar solid wire. The heating converging die head may have a plurality of to accept the aforementioned fiber yarn bundle F. For example, when the fiber yarn bundle F is a plurality of yarn bundles, it will enter each heating converging die when the yarn and cloth are spread to a set degree. The head is rolled into the columnar wire. The heating cluster die of this embodiment includes a cluster die 51 and a molding die 53. The cluster die 51 at least includes a cluster winding channel 511, and the cluster winding channel 511 preferably has a tapered shape. The inner diameter channel gradually reduces its diameter from the entrance end to the exit end of the fiber yarn bundle F, which can further improve the resin impregnation of the fiber yarn bundle F; The smaller diameter of the outlet end of the take-up channel 511 achieves the regulation of the diameter of the fiber yarn bundle F that is rolled into a columnar wire. In addition, the clustering die 51 is preferably an openable structure design, so that the clustering and winding channel 511 can be exposed and cleaned, so as to prevent resin accumulation and remaining in the channel from affecting the appearance or quality of the columnar wire.

Furthermore, after this preferred embodiment is formed into a columnar wire, after cooling, the columnar wire can be cut into fiber-containing resin particles by a cutting machine, which becomes a fiber resin matrix for subsequent processing into other products. Grain use. Among them, this cutting step is preferably to provide a cooling mechanism (such as a cooler) and a drawing mechanism (such as a pinch wheel) in front of the cutting machine to achieve a feasible solution in implementation.

The second preferred embodiment of the thermal processing forming device 50 of the present invention is a double steel belt hot press or a heating and pressing roller, which is mainly used to roll the fiber yarn bundle F after spreading the yarn and cloth. Press and shape into a piece of material. Finally, a winding device (not shown) is provided after the thermal forming device 50 of this embodiment to wind the sheet for subsequent transportation or processing.

The present invention corresponds to the aforementioned equipment for improving the spreading stability and resin impregnation of fiber yarn bundles. The following provides a method for improving the spreading stability and resin impregnation of fiber yarn bundles. The steps include: Step S1: submerge the aforementioned fiber yarn bundle F into the fluidized resin powder P contained in the powder impregnation tank 30; Step S2: heating the powder impregnation tank 30 and/or shake and/or stir the powder impregnation tank 30 to maintain the resin powder P in a fluidized state; Step S3: The powder impregnation tank 30 spreads the fiber yarn bundle F and distributes and impregnates the resin powder P on the surface of the fiber yarn bundle F; and Step S4: heat processing the fiber yarn bundle F after spreading the yarn cloth.

Among them, the material of the fiber yarn bundle F used in the present invention preferably includes carbon fiber, glass fiber, flax fiber or nylon fiber.

The above are only preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims of the present invention. All other equivalent changes or modifications made without departing from the spirit of the present invention should be included in the claims of the present invention. Within range.

10 Fiber creel 20 Pre-treatment heating oven 30 powder impregnation tank 31 bucket 33 Spreading rod 35 Air intake 37 Vibration mechanism 40 post-processing heating oven 50 hot forming device 51 Cluster Die 511 Cluster Rewinding Channel 53 Molding Die F fiber yarn bundle P resin powder G high pressure gas

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the device for improving the spreading stability and resin impregnation of the fiber yarn bundle according to the present invention. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the powder impregnation tank of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the heating cluster die head of the first preferred embodiment of the thermal processing forming apparatus of the present invention.

10 Fiber creel 20 Pre-treatment heating oven 30 powder impregnation tank 40 post-processing heating oven 50 hot forming device F fiber yarn bundle

Claims (17)

A device for improving the spreading stability of fiber yarn bundles and resin impregnation, which includes a powder impregnation tank and a thermal processing molding device arranged in sequence, wherein: the powder impregnation tank includes a bucket and is arranged in the bucket A plurality of yarn spreading rods in the tank and a plurality of air inlet holes arranged at the bottom of the tank; the tank is provided with a heating device and/or linked with a vibration mechanism and/or is provided with a stirring device; and the thermal processing molding The device is a double steel belt hot press or a heated and pressurized roller or includes at least one heated cluster die. For example, the device for improving the stability of fiber yarn bundle spreading and the impregnability of resin in the first item of the scope of patent application, the powder impregnation tank is further connected with an air extraction device, and the air extraction device is used to adjust the inside of the powder impregnation tank. pressure. For example, the device for improving the spreading stability and resin impregnation of the fiber yarn bundle in the first item of the patent application, the heating cluster die includes a cluster die, and the cluster die includes at least one cluster winding channel. For example, the device for improving the spreading stability and resin impregnation of fiber yarn bundles in the third item of the scope of patent application, the bundle winding channel has a tapered channel. For example, the device for improving the spreading stability and resin impregnation of fiber yarn bundles in item 3 or 4 of the scope of patent application, the end of the bundle winding channel is further equipped with a moulding die, which contains a specific bundle collecting The volume channel has a smaller caliber. For example, the device for improving the spreading stability and resin impregnation of the fiber yarn bundle in the fourth item of the scope of patent application, the heating and converging die head is further equipped with a cooling mechanism, a drawing mechanism and a cutting machine. For example, the equipment for improving the spreading stability of fiber yarn bundles and the resin impregnation of items 1, 2, 3, 4 or 6 in the scope of patent application, a heating oven is further provided before and/or after the powder impregnation tank. For example, the equipment for improving the spreading stability of fiber yarn bundles and resin impregnation in the fifth item of the scope of patent application, a heating oven is further provided before and/or after the powder impregnation tank. A method for improving the spreading stability of fiber yarn bundles and resin impregnation, which comprises the steps of: immersing a fiber yarn bundle into a fluidized resin powder contained in a powder impregnation tank; heating the powder impregnation tank And/or shake and/or stir the powder impregnation tank to maintain the resin powder in a fluidized state; the powder impregnation tank spreads the fiber yarn bundle and distributes the resin powder impregnated in the fiber yarn bundle Surface; and heat processing the fiber yarn bundle after spreading the yarn cloth. For example, the method for improving the spreading stability of the fiber yarn bundle and the resin impregnation property in the 9th item of the scope of patent application, the thermal processing molding system is to heat the fiber yarn bundle into a sheet. For example, the method for improving the spreading stability and resin impregnation of the fiber yarn bundle in the 9th item of the scope of patent application, the thermal processing molding system is to wind the fiber yarn bundle into a columnar wire. For example, the method for improving the spreading stability and resin impregnation of the fiber yarn bundle in the 11th item of the scope of patent application, the columnar wire is further cut and pelletized after cooling. For example, the method for improving the spreading stability of fiber yarn bundles and the resin impregnation property of item 9, 10 or 11 of the scope of patent application, the fiber yarn bundle is further heated before and/or after entering the powder impregnation tank. For example, the method for improving the spreading stability of fiber yarn bundles and the resin impregnation property of item 9, 10 or 11 of the scope of patent application, the method of heating the powder impregnation tank is to directly heat the powder impregnation tank containing the resin powder A tank or heating causes the resin powder to produce high-pressure gas, which is a phenomenon of fluidization. For example, the method for improving the spreading stability and resin impregnation of fiber yarn bundles in the 9, 10 or 11 of the scope of patent application, the barrel of the powder impregnation tank is provided with a plurality of spreading rods, and the spreading rods can be used in Adjust the height during the process. For example, the method for improving the stability of fiber yarn bundle spreading and the impregnation of resin in item 9, 10 or 11 of the scope of patent application, the pressure in the powder impregnation tank can be adjusted. For example, the method for improving the spreading stability and resin impregnation of fiber yarn bundles in the 11th item of the scope of patent application, before the multiple yarn bundles enter the powder impregnation tank, a creel is further used to adjust the tension and spacing of each yarn bundle.

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