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EP0089537A1 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Improved ballistic-resistant article

Assignee: Honeywell International Inc
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Filing: 1983-03-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-03-05
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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 08:22
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

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