Abstract: A method of making a fibrous web containing at least two particulate materials and which includes mixing the dry particulate materials together in a substantially dry condition, using the dry mix to form at least part of an aqueous dispersion of fibres, and draining the dispersion to form a web.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a stiff permeable sheet-like fibrous structure which includes forming a web with 20% to 60% single fibres having a high modulus of elasticity (as herein defined) and between 7 and 50 millimeters long, and 40% to 60% by weight of a wholly or substantially unconsolidated particulate plastics material, and then treating the web by heating to melt the plastics material and passing it between a pair of nip rollers so that the plastics material can flow and wet out the fibres, the nip between the rollers being set to a dimension less than the thickness of the unconsolidated web and greater than that of the web if it were to be fully consolidated, and allowing the web to expand and remain substantially permeable after passing through the rollers.

Abstract: A layer of particulate material is formed by forming a foamed dispersion of a particulate material, supplying the foamed dispersion to a predetermined zone of a plane through which a foraminous element is moving, applying a vacuum to said plane across the zone on the other side of the foraminous element, so as to drain foam and form a particulate layer thereon, removing any free air from the drained foam, and continuously recycling the resulting foam for re-use in forming the foamed particulate dispersion. An apparatus is provided for carrying out the process.

Abstract: A process for moulding articles of fibre reinforced plastics material which includes pre-heating a sheet of consolidated thermoplastics material which has dispersed therein from 20% to 70% by weight of reinforcing fibres which have a high modulus of elasticity (as herein defined) and between about 7 and about 50 millimeters long to cause the sheet to expand due to relief of the stresses in the reinforcing fibres, placing the expanded sheet in a compression mould and closing the mould to form an article of predetermined shape having portions of different density.

Abstract: A shaped article of fiber reinforced material is made by forming a foamed aqueous dispersion having single discrete fibers, and unconsolidated particulate thermoplastic or thermosetting material, laying down and draining the dispersion to form a web, transferring the web to an oven and heating it to form a self-sustaining permeable sheet, transferring the sheet to a through-air heating oven, passing heated air through the sheet to cause substantially uniform and homogeneous heating of the thermoplastic component, transferring the heated sheet to a compression mold, and subjecting the sheet to compression molding to form a shaped fiber reinforced plastic article.

Abstract: A method of applying a liquid composition to a moving fibrous web including forming a moving wet-laid fibrous web, partially draining the web and then applying a liquid composition by causing it to flow along a curved surface adjacent the web and in the direction of movement thereof, a foraminous material moving at the same speed and in the same direction of movement of the web being interposed between the surface and the web so that the material is applied to the web through said foraminous material.

Abstract: An air permeable sheet-like structure comprising 20% to 60% by weight of reinforcing fibers having a high modulus of elasticity (as herein defined), and being between about 7 and about 50 millimeters long, and 40% to 80% by weight of wholly or substantially unconsolidated particulate plastics material, and in which the fibrous and plastics components are bonded into an air permeable structure.

Abstract: A solid fibre reinforced plastics material sheet comprising 20% to 60% by weight of reinforcing fibres having a high modulus of elasticity (as herein defined), a substantial proportion of the fibers being between 7 and 50 millimeters long and 13 microns or less in diameter, and 40% to 80% by weight of a thermoplastics material.