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EP0185460A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Reformable composites and methods of making same

Assignee: Textilver SA
•
Filing: 1985-11-14
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-11-14
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Abstract

Abstract A reformable reinforced composite made by the melt-impregnation of fiber-reinforcing material preferably in the form of a tow with a cross-linkable thermoplastic polymer, the interlacing (e.g. braiding, weaving, knitting, etc.) of the impregnated material (tow) to form an intermediate composite, the melt-consolidation of the intermediate composite into a composite and the subsequent cross-linking of the impregnating polymer. Also disclosed is a reformable composite made by the subsequent polymer melt-impregnation of the already interlaced fiber-reinforcing material, followed by the melt consolidation and the subsequent cross-linking of the impregnating polymer. The result is a semi-finished, fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composite that may be reformed to a significant degree with only the use of heat and light pressure, and not requiring the use of dies, molds or high pressures.

Inventors

  • 👤 Paul B. Germeraad
  • 👤 John Stiggelbout

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 20:06
CPC Classifications
D; D04; D04C; D04C1/00; D04C1/02; B; B29; B29C; B29C53/00; B29C53/02; B29C53/08; B29C53/083; B29C70/00; B29C70/04; B29C70/28; B29K; B29K2101/00; B29K2101/12; B29K2105/00; B29K2105/06; B29K2105/08; B29K2105/0809; B29K2105/24; B29L; B29L2009/00; B29L2023/00; B29L2023/22; D10; D10B; D10B2505/00; D10B2505/02

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim 12 words
A reformable composite comprising fiber-reinforcing material melt-impregnated with a cross-linked thermoplastic polymer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 12 words
A reformable composite comprising fiber-reinforcing material melt-impregnated with a cross-linked thermoplastic polymer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 20 words
The composite of claim 1 wherein the fiber-reinforcing material comprises less than about sixty-five percent by volume of the composite.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
The composite of claim 2 wherein the fiber-reinforcing material comprises more than about ten percent by volume of the composite.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 20 words
The composite of claim 1 wherein the fiber-reinforcing material comprises less than about forty-five percent by volume of the composite.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 13 words
The composite of claim 1 wherein the fiber-reinforcing material is essentially glass fiber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 13 words
The composite of claim 1 wherein the fiber-reinforcing material is essentially Kevlar fiber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 13 words
The composite of claim 1 wherein the fiber-reinforcing material is essentially carbon fiber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 10 words
The composite of claim 1 wherein the polymer is Tefzel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 10 words
The composite of claim 1 wherein the polymer is Ultem.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 10 words
The composite of claim 1 wherein the polymer is Kynar.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 10 words
The composite of claim 1 wherein the polymer is polyethylene.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 13 words
The composite of claim 1 wherein the polymer is cross-linked by ionizing radiation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 45 words
A reformable composite comprising fiber-reinforcing material in the form of a tow, the tow having been melt-impregnated with a cross-linkable thermoplastic polymer, the impregnated tow having been interlaced to form an intermediate composite, the intermediate composite having-been melt-consolidated and the polymer having been subsequently cross-linked.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 45 words
A reformable composite comprising fiber-reinforcing material in the form of a tow, the tow having been melt-impregnated with a cross-linkable thermoplastic polymer, the impregnated tow having been interlaced to form an intermediate composite, the intermediate composite having-been melt-consolidated and the polymer having been subsequently cross-linked.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 13 words
The composite of claim 13 wherein the fiber-reinforcing material is essentially Kevlar fiber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 10 words
The composite of claim 13 wherein the polymer is Tefzel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 10 words
The composite of claim 13 wherein the interlacing is braiding.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 19 words
The composite is claim 16 wherein the braiding is at a braid angle which is the neutral angle. '
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 25 words
The composite of claim 17 wherein the composite is in the form of a duct and the duct further includes a liner inside the duct.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 45 words
A reformable composite comprising fiber-reinforcing material in the form of a tow, the tow having been interlaced, the interlaced tow having been then melt-impregnated with a cross-linkable thermoplastic polymer to form an intermediate composite, the intermediate composite having been melt-consolidated and the polymer subsequently cross-linked.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 45 words
A reformable composite comprising fiber-reinforcing material in the form of a tow, the tow having been interlaced, the interlaced tow having been then melt-impregnated with a cross-linkable thermoplastic polymer to form an intermediate composite, the intermediate composite having been melt-consolidated and the polymer subsequently cross-linked.
Claim 23
Independent Claim 39 words
A method of making a reformable composite comprising the steps of: providing a fiber-reinforcing material; melt-impregnating the fiber-reinforcing material with a cross-linkable thermoplastic polymer; melt-consolidating the impregnated fiber-reinforcing material; and cross-linking the polymer of the consolidated impregnated fiber-reinforced material.
Claim 24
Independent Claim 39 words
A method of making a reformable composite comprising the steps of: providing a fiber-reinforcing material; melt-impregnating the fiber-reinforcing material with a cross-linkable thermoplastic polymer; melt-consolidating the impregnated fiber-reinforcing material; and cross-linking the polymer of the consolidated impregnated fiber-reinforced material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the fiber-reinforcing material is in the form of a tow and further including the step of interlacing the tow after it is melt-impregnated with polymer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the interlacing step comprises braiding of the tow.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the braiding is done at a braid angle which is the neutral angle.

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