COMPOSITE PROFILE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A COMPOSITE PROFILE
A composite profile comprises: a foam core ( 1 ) with opposing frontal faces ( 2 ) and a plurality of side faces ( 3 ); and a reinforcement fabric ( 4 ) which is at least partially in direct contact with at least two adjacent side faces ( 3 ). The reinforcement fabric ( 4 ) is a woven textile or an at least bidirectionally oriented non-woven textile; the foam core ( 1 ) does not or not completely penetrate into the reinforcement fabric ( 4 ); and at least on one side face ( 3 ) the foam core ( 1 ) is exposed. A method of manufacturing comprises the steps of: (I) providing a reinforcement fabric ( 4 ), the reinforcement fabric ( 4 ) being provided in such a shape as to define at least one upwardly open cavity ( 1 ′) adapted to receive a foam ( 4 ); and (H) providing a solid or spreadable foam ( 1 ) into the at least one cavity ( 1 ′) of the reinforcement fabric ( 4 ).
1 . A composite profile, comprising at least one of:
a foam core with opposing frontal faces and a plurality of side faces; and
a reinforcement fabric which is at least partially in direct contact with at least two adjacent side faces;
wherein
the reinforcement fabric is a woven textile or an at least bidirectionally oriented non-woven textile;
the foam core does not or not completely penetrate into the reinforcement fabric; and
at least on one side face of the composite profile the foam core is exposed.
2 . The composite profile according to claim 1 , wherein the foam core comprises a polyurethane foam, an epoxy resin foam, a polyester resin foam, an expanded polystyrene foam and/or an expanded polypropylene foam.
3 . The composite profile according to claim 1 , wherein the foam core comprises a polyurethane foam obtainable by reaction of a mixture comprising:
Component A: a polyol formulation, comprising:
(a) One or more polyether polyol(s) and/or one or more polyester polyol(s) and/or polyamines with hydroxyl number(s) from 12 to 1200 mg KOH/g, and molecular weight(s) from 60 to 7000 g/mol, and functionality from between 2 to 8;
(b) None, one or more cross linker(s) and/or chain extender(s) with hydroxyl number(s) from between 500 to 2000 mg KOH/g, and molecular weight(s) from between 60 to 400 g/mol, and functionality from between 2 to 8;
(c) One or more amine and/or organometallic and/or metallic catalyst(s);
(d) None, one or more flame retardant(s) which may be halogenated;
(e) One or more surfactants;
(f) One or more chemical and/or physical blowing agents;
and
Component B: an isocyanate, comprising:
(a) Diphenylmethane diisocyanate and/or polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate with an optional monomer content 40-100 wt-% and with an NCO-content of 25 wt-% to 35 wt-%.
4 . The composite profile according to claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement fabric comprises glass fibers, carbon fibers and/or aramid fibers.
5 . The composite profile according to claim 1 , wherein the foam core is bonded to the reinforcement fabric without use of an additional adhesive.
6 . The composite profile according to claim 1 , wherein the profile comprises a plurality of foam cores in contact with the reinforcement fabric.
7 . The composite profile according to claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement fabric is a paper fabric and an additional reinforcement fabric is at least partially in contact with said reinforcement fabric.
8 . A method of manufacturing a composite profile according to claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
(I) providing a reinforcement fabric, the reinforcement fabric being provided in such a shape as to define at least one upwardly open cavity adapted to receive a foam and wherein at least two adjacent sides of the cavity are formed by the reinforcement fabric; and
(II) providing a solid or spreadable foam into the at least one cavity of the reinforcement fabric, wherein the foam does not or not completely penetrate into the reinforcement fabric.
9 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the reinforcement fabric is a woven textile or an at least bidirectionally oriented non-woven textile.
10 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein in (I) the reinforcement fabric is provided in such a shape as to define a plurality of upwardly open cavities adapted to receive respective foams and in (II) foam is provided into each cavity.
11 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein (II) comprises introducing a frothing and/or thixotropic foam into the at least one cavity of the reinforcement fabric.
12 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the foam is a spreadable foam obtained from a reaction mixture and is provided into the at least one cavity of the reinforcement fabric after the cream time of the reaction mixture.
13 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the foam comprises a polyurethane foam, an epoxy resin foam, a polyester resin foam, an expanded polystyrene foam and/or an expanded polypropylene foam.
14 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the reinforcement fabric comprises glass fibers, carbon fibers and/or aramid fibers.
15 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the foam is bonded to the reinforcement fabric without use of an additional adhesive.
16 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the reinforcement fabric is in a one-part form.
17 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein at least one section of the reinforcement fabric is not part of the cavity and said section is at least partially contacted by removable masking.