Patent EP0482270A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0482270A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method of producing stratiform articles and products
Assignee: A S A A INC.
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Filing: 1990-10-24
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-10-24
Abstract
Abstract A method of producing self-supporting stratiform articles having a substrate layer (25) formed of a thermoplastic polymer composition and at least one surface portion formed by a layer (24) made of a cover material, such as a textile; the method comprises: providing a mould cavity in conformity with the article that is to be produced and having a female cavity portion and a male cavity portion; the female cavity portion has at least one surface in conformity with the covered surface portion; the method according to the invention is characterized by providing, for each covered surface portion, a preformed laminate (28) comprising the cover layer (24) and a thermoplastic shielding layer (26); the shielding layer (26) acts as a permeation barrier protecting the cover layer (24) against the hot polymer composition that will be injected for forming the substrate (25); the shielding layer (26) may also act as a shrinkage buffer; the preformed laminate (28) is substantially self-supporting and provides for safe positioning of its cover layer (24) at a desired portion of the female mould and, hence, of the final article; because the shielding layer (26) is formed of a material that is substantially compatible with the thermoplastic polymer composition of said substrate layer (25), i.e. can interfuse therewith, a firm bond between the cover layer (24) and the substrate (25) can be formed upon solidification.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrea Savonuzzi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 14:30
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R13/00; B60R13/02; B32; B32B; B32B27/00; B32B27/12; B29; B29C; B29C45/00; B29C45/14; B29C45/14778; B29C45/14811; B29C45/14836; B29C2045/14844; B29C2045/1486; B29C2045/14901; B29C2045/14909; B29K; B29K2713/00; B29K2715/00; B29K2715/003; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/30; B29L2031/3005; B29L2031/3014; B29L2031/3041; B60R13/0237; B60R13/0243; B60R2013/0281; B60R2013/0293
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
224 words
A method of producing an essentially self-supporting stratiform article having: a substrate layer formed of a normally solid thermoplastic polymer composition and at least one surface portion formed by a cover layer made of a generally flexible material having an external visual appearance that differs from said substrate but being firmly connected therewith; comprising the steps of: A) providing a mould cavity in substantial shape conformity with said article; said cavity being essentially defined by a female cavity portion and a male cavity portion, and said female cavity portion having at least one surface area shaped in conformity with said at least one surface portion; B) providing at least one preformed laminate comprising said cover layer and a normally solid thermoplastic shielding layer substantially co-extensive with said cover layer, said shielding layer being made of a material that is substantially compatible with said thermoplastic polymer composition of said substrate layer; C) arranging said at least one preformed laminate in said area of said female cavity portion, said cover layer contacting said female cavity portion; D) injecting said thermoplastic polymer composition while in a fluid state into said mould cavity for substantially filling said cavity and for interfusing with said thermoplastic shielding layer; E) allowing said thermoplastic polymer composition to solidify so as to form said article; and removing said article from said mould cavity.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
224 words
A method of producing an essentially self-supporting stratiform article having: a substrate layer formed of a normally solid thermoplastic polymer composition and at least one surface portion formed by a cover layer made of a generally flexible material having an external visual appearance that differs from said substrate but being firmly connected therewith; comprising the steps of: A) providing a mould cavity in substantial shape conformity with said article; said cavity being essentially defined by a female cavity portion and a male cavity portion, and said female cavity portion having at least one surface area shaped in conformity with said at least one surface portion; B) providing at least one preformed laminate comprising said cover layer and a normally solid thermoplastic shielding layer substantially co-extensive with said cover layer, said shielding layer being made of a material that is substantially compatible with said thermoplastic polymer composition of said substrate layer; C) arranging said at least one preformed laminate in said area of said female cavity portion, said cover layer contacting said female cavity portion; D) injecting said thermoplastic polymer composition while in a fluid state into said mould cavity for substantially filling said cavity and for interfusing with said thermoplastic shielding layer; E) allowing said thermoplastic polymer composition to solidify so as to form said article; and removing said article from said mould cavity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic shielding layer is formed of a composition having a longitudinal shrinkage that is lower than the longitudinal shrinkage of said polymer composition of said substrate so as to provide a shrinkage buffer between said substrate and said cover layer in said step (E).
Claim 4
Independent Claim
61 words
The method of claims 1 or 2 wherein said thermoplastic shielding layer is formed of a material having, at a temperature at which said polymer composition of said substrate is fluid, a significantly higher viscosity than said polymer composition so as to provide a barrier that prevents permeation of said fluid polymer composition through said shielding layer in said step (D).
Claim 5
Independent Claim
27 words
The method of any of claims 1-3 wherein said polymer composition of said substrate is based upon an organic thermoplastic polymer selected from polyolefins and ABS-type copolymers.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
46 words
The method of any of claims 1-4 wherein said thermoplastic shielding layer comprises: a thermoplastic polymer that is substantially compatible with said polymer composition of said substrate, and a particulate filler that remains solid when contacted in step (D) with said polymer composition in fluid state.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
48 words
The method of any of claims 1-3 wherein said thermoplastic polymer composition of said substrate comprises at least a major portion of polypropylene, and wherein said shielding layer comprises polypropylene and a particulate filler having an average particle size in the range of from 100 to 500 micrometers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said filler essentially consists of particulate wood.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 6 or 7 wherein said shielding layer contains from 20 to 80 %, by weight, preferably 40 to 60 %, by weight, of polypropylene and from 80 to 20 %, by weight, preferably from 60 to 40 %, by weight, of said filler.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
39 words
The method of any of claims 1-9 wherein said substrate layer has a thickness in the range of from 1 to 10 mm while said shielding layer has a thickness in the range of from 0.5 to 3 mm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A stratiform article for use as a trim panel produced according to the method of any of claims 1-9.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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