Abstract: A method and apparatus for reclaiming scrap produced in the manufacture of fabric reinforced thermoplastic resin sheet material so that the scrap may be worked, banded and calendered or extruded to form a finished product. The reclaiming or reworking of the material is made possible by first means for tearing the fabric fibers embedded in the thermoplastic resin into discrete finite lengths, means for mixing the resulting fibers and resin and means for forming the mixture into a new sheet of thermoplastic resin material suitable for many commercial uses. The tearing of the textile fibers embedded in the scrap into minute lengths is accomplished by means for applying shearing force to the opposite surfaces of the segments of scrap, in directions parallel to the surfaces.

Abstract: A method for reclaiming scrap produced in the manufacture of fabric reinforced thermoplastic resin sheet material so that the scrap may be worked, banded and calendered or extruded to form a finished product. The reclaiming or reworking of the material is made possible by first tearing the fabric fibers embedded in the thermoplastic resin into discrete finite lengths, mixing the resulting fibers and resin and forming the mixture into a new sheet of thermoplastic resin material suitable for many commercial uses. The tearing of the textile fibers embedded in the scrap into minute lengths is accomplished by applying shearing force to the opposite surfaces of the segments of scrap, in directions parallel to the surfaces. This is accomplished, for example, in a Banbury mixer or in a tight cold mill. The shearing force causes stretching and ultimate rupturing and tearing of the fibers progressively throughout the entire surface area of the scrap segment.