Abstract: A technique including an apparatus for injection molding fiber-reinforced thermoset plastic articles is disclosed. The technique includes forming a mixture of short lengths of reinforcing fibers with a thermosetting resin in a predetermined fiber-to-resin ratio and introducing the mixture to an injection molding cylinder. The volume of mixture introduced is at least a multiple of two of the volume of the mold chamber so that the injection plunger traverses the intersection between the molding cylinder and a stuffer cylinder a single time for a multiplicity of molding shots to minimize fiber breakage and balling. The injection plunger is adapted to precompact the mixture by being forced forward until a predetermined high pressure is sensed, indicating a hydraulically locked condition of the plunger wherein substantially all entrapped gases have been expressed from the mixture and there exists no substantial forward movement of the plunger.

Abstract: A technique directed to a process for injection molding fiber-reinforced thermoset plastic articles is disclosed. The technique includes forming a mixture of short lengths of reinforcing fibers with a thermosetting resin in a predetermined fiber-to-resin ratio and introducing the mixture to an injection molding cylinder. The volume of mixture introduced is at least a multiple of two of the volume of the mold chamber so that the injection plunger traverses the intersection between the molding cylinder and a stuffer cylinder a single time for a multiplicity of molding shots to minimize fiber breakage and balling. The injection plunger is adapted to precompact the mixture by being forced forward until a predetermined high pressure is sensed, indicating a hydraulically locked condition of the plunger wherein substantially all entrapped gases have been expressed from the mixture and there exists no substantial forward movement of the plunger.