EP0089537A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Improved ballistic-resistant article
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc
•
Filing: 1983-03-05
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2003-03-05
Abstract
Abstract Articles such as vests, helmets and structural elements containing a network of ultrahigh molecular weight, high strength, high modulus polyethylene or polypropylene fibers. The fibers, and especially polyethylene fibers of 15, 20, 25,30 or more g/denier tenacity, and 300, 500, 1000, 1500 or more g/denier tensile modulus impart exceptional ballistic resistance to the articles in spite of the melting points, e.g. 145-151°C for the polyethylene fibers and 168-171°C for the polypropylene fibers, which are high for these polymers, but substantially lower than the 200°C or more melting point previously thought necessary for good ballistic resistance.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary Allan Harpell
- 👤 Sheldon Kavesh
- 👤 Igor Palley
- 👤 Dusan Ciril Prevorsek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 07:01
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B5/00; B32B5/22; B32B5/24; B32B5/26; A; A42; A42B; A42B3/00; A42B3/04; A42B3/06; A42B3/062; B32B27/00; B32B27/32; F; F41; F41H; F41H5/00; F41H5/02; F41H5/04; F41H5/0471; F41H5/0478; F41H5/0485; B32B2255/00; B32B2255/02; B32B2255/26; B32B2262/00; B32B2262/02; B32B2262/0253; B32B2571/00; B32B2571/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/911; Y10T; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/30; Y10T442/3976
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A ballistic-resistant article of manufacture comprising a network of polyolefin fibers having, in the case of polyethylene fibers, a weight average molecular weight of at least 500,000, a tensile modulus of at least 300 g/denier and a tenacity of at least 15 g/denier, and in the case of polypropylene fibers, a weight average molecular weight of at least 750,000, a tensile modulus of at least 160 g/denier and a tenacity of at least 8 g/denier, said fibers being formed into a network of sufficient thickness to absorb the energy of a projectile.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
A ballistic-resistant article of manufacture comprising a network of polyolefin fibers having, in the case of polyethylene fibers, a weight average molecular weight of at least 500,000, a tensile modulus of at least 300 g/denier and a tenacity of at least 15 g/denier, and in the case of polypropylene fibers, a weight average molecular weight of at least 750,000, a tensile modulus of at least 160 g/denier and a tenacity of at least 8 g/denier, said fibers being formed into a network of sufficient thickness to absorb the energy of a projectile.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ballistic-resistant article of claim 1 being in the form of a composite comprising said polyolefin fiber network and a matrix.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The ballistic-resistant article of claim 2 wherein said polyolefin fiber network comprises polyolefin fibers coated with an ethylene or propylene copolymer and said matrix comprises a thermoset resin, said copolymer having strong adhesion to said polyolefin fibers and to said thermoset resin matrix.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ballistic-resistant article of claim 2 wherein said matrix comprises a thermoplastic having ethylene or propylene crystallinity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ballistic-resistant article of claim 4 wherein said polyolefin fiber is polyethylene and said thermoplastic matrix is polyethylene.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ballistic-resistant article of any previous claim wherein said polyethylene fibers have a tenacity of at least 30 g/denier. ,
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ballistic-resistant article of any previous claim wherein said polyethylene fibers have a tensile modulus of at least 1000 g/denier.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ballistic-resistant article of claim 1, 6 or 7 consisting essentially of a flexible network of said polyolefin fibers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
9 words
The ballistic-resistant article of claim 8 comprising a fabric.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The ballistic-resistant article of claim 9 wherein said fabric has been heat set.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ballistic-resistant article of claim 9 wherein said fabric has been subjected to heat and pressure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The ballistic-resistant article of claim 8 wherein said ballistic-resistant article is a network of said polyethylene fibers that has been subjected to heat and pressure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3000772A
Cited
US3105372A
Cited
US4309487A
Cited
US3719545A
Cited
FR2140156A1
Cited
US3855632A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.