Continuous multiple tow coating reactor

1. A method for coating a fiber tow comprising:

moving a fiber tow across a wedge to separate the fiber tow into a plurality of sub-tows, wherein the wedge includes a plurality of longitudinal grooves and a plurality of fins within each of the plurality of longitudinal grooves. each of the plurality of longitudinal grooves configured to receive one of the plurality of sub-tows; and

coating the plurality of sub-tows.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

consolidating the plurality of sub-tows into a single tow.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wedge has a coating.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

untwisting the tow before the coating; and

twisting the tow after the coating.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wedge includes a tapered portion including a tip in line with the fiber tow.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the wedge includes an untapered portion downstream of the tapered portion.

7. The method of claim 6 , comprising:

untwisting the tow before the coating; and

twisting the tow after the coating.

8. The method of claim 6 , comprising:

consolidating the plurality of sub-tows into a single tow.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fiber tow has a tow center axis, the wedge has a wedge center axis, and the tow center axis and the wedge center axis are aligned.

10. A method for coating a fiber tow. comprising:

moving a fiber tow across a wedge to separate the fiber tow into a plurality of sub-tows;

coating the plurality of sub-tows;The method of claim 1 , comprising:

untwisting the tow before the coating with the wedge; and

twisting the tow after the coating with a second wedge, wherein the second wedge includes a second plurality of fins within each of a second plurality of longitudinal grooves.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second wedge is substantially the same as the wedge but oriented in an opposite direction.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the wedge includes a tapered portion including a tip in line with the fiber tow.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the fiber tow has a tow center axis, the wedge has a wedge center axis, and the tow center axis and the wedge center axis are aligned.

14. A method for coating a fiber tow. comprising:

moving a fiber tow across a wedge to separate the fiber tow into a plurality of sub-tows;

coating the plurality of sub-tows; and

consolidating the plurality of sub-tows into a single tow with a second wedge, wherein the second wedge includes a second plurality of fins within each of a second plurality of longitudinal grooves.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the second wedge is substantially the same as the wedge but oriented in an opposite direction.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the wedge includes a tapered portion including a tip in line with the fiber tow.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the fiber tow has a tow center axis, the wedge has a wedge center axis, and the tow center axis and the wedge center axis are aligned.

18. A method for coating a fiber tow. comprising:

moving a fiber tow across a wedge to separate the fiber tow into a plurality of sub-tows; and

coating the plurality of sub-tows

wherein the wedge includes a first half surface and a second half surface opposite the first half surface, andthe wedge is positioned such that one of the plurality of sub-tows runs across the first half surface, and a second of the plurality of sub-tows runs across the second half surface, the wedge includes a plurality of longitudinal grooves, each of the plurality of longitudinal grooves configured to receive one of the plurality of sub-tows, and the wedge includes a plurality of fins within each of the plurality of longitudinal grooves.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the wedge includes a tapered portion including a tip in line with the fiber tow.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the fiber tow has a tow center axis, the wedge has a wedge center axis, and the tow center axis and the wedge center axis are aligned.