Fiber reinforced elastomers

Claim 2

Fibers for use in the reinforcement of elastomeric materials comprising metal fibers having a smooth continuous glass coating on the surfaces thereof, said glass coating containing a thin coating of an anchoring agent selected from the group consisting of an organo silicon compound and a Werner complex, and an elastomer compatible polymeric material selected from the group consisting of a resorcinol-aldehyde resin and rubber, a vinyl pyridine-butadiene-styrene terpolymer, elastomers and resinous polymers.

Claim 3

Fibers as defined in claim 1 wherein the metal fibers have a thickness sufficient to retain their fibrous characteristics.

Claim 4

Fibers as defined in claim 1 wherein the fibers have a thickness within the range of 0.00015 to 0.00075 inch.

Claim 5

Fibers as defined in claim 1 wherein the glass coating has a thickness within the range of 0.00001 to 0.00020 inch.

Claim 6

Fibers as defined in claim 1 wherein the metal fibers have a thickness within the range of 0.00030 to 0.00040 inch.

Claim 7

Fibers as defined in claim 1 wherein the anchoring agent is a Werner complex in which the carboxylato group coordinated with the trivalent chromium atom contains an amino group or An epoxy group. fibers.

Claim 8

Fibers as defined in claim 1 wherein the thin coating constitutes between 1 and 12% by weight of the fiber system.

Claim 9

Fibers as defined in claim 1 wherein the thin coating of the anchoring agent contains an organo silicon compound selected from the group consisting of an organo silane of the formula: Z(4-n) Si Rn wherein Z is a readily hydrolyzable group, n is an integer from 1 to 3 and R is an organic group, their corresponding silanols and siloxane polymers and copolymers.

Claim 10

Fibers as defined in claim 8 wherein R is hydrocarbon groups containing up to 12 carbon atoms and at least one of the R groups is substituted with a group selected from the group consisting of an amino group, an epoxy group, a carboxyalkyl ester group and a halogen group.

Claim 11

A fiber bundle as defined in claim 10 wherein the impregnant constitutes 5-25% by weight of the impregnated bundle.

Claim 12

A fiber bundle as defined in claim 10 wherein the metal fibers have a thickness sufficient to retain their fibrous characteristics.

Claim 13

A fiber bundle as defined in claim 10 wherein the fibers have a thickness within the range of 0.00015 to 0.00075 inch.

Claim 14

A fiber bundle as defined in claim 10 wherein the glass coating has a thickness within the range of 0.00001 to 0.00020 inch.

Claim 15

A fiber bundle as defined in claim 10 wherein the metal fibers have a thickness within the range of 0.00030 to 0.00040 inch.

Claim 16

A fiber bundle as defined in claim 10 wherein the individual glass coated metal fibers contain a thin coating comprising a material selected from the group consisting of an anchoring agent and a mixture of an anchoring agent and an elastomer compatible polymeric material.

Claim 17

A fiber bundle as defined in claim 10 wherein the impregnant also includes an anchoring agent.

Claim 18

A fiber bundle as defined in claim 17 wherein the anchoring agent is selected from the group consisting of an organo silicon compound and a Werner complex.

Claim 19

In a fiber reinforced elastomeric product in which an elastomeric material constitutes the continuous phase in which the fibers are distributed, the improvement comprising fibers formed of a metal coated with a continuous glass coating to form a glass coated metal fiber, the glass coated metal wires being coated with a material selected from the group consisting of an anchoring agent selected from the group consisting of an organo silicon compound and a Werner complex, an elastomer compatible polymeric material selected from the group consisting of a blend of a resorcinol-aldehyde resin and rubber, a vinyl pyridine butadiene-styrene terpolymer, elastomers and resinous polymers, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 20

In a fiber reinforced elastomeric product in which an elastomeric material constitutes the continuous phase in which the fibers are distributed, the improvement comprising fibers formed of a metal coated with a continuous glass coating to form a glass coated metal fiber, the glass coated metal wires being coated with a material selected from the group consisting of an anchoring agent selected from the group consisting of an organo silicon compound and a Werner complex, an elastomer compatible polymeric material selected from the group consisting of a blend of a resorcinol-aldehyde resin and rubber, a vinyl pyridine butadiene-styrene terpolymer, elastomers and resinous polymers, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 21

A fiber reinforced elastomeric product as defined in claim 19 wherein the metal fibers have a thickness sufficient to retain their fibrous characteristics.

Claim 22

A fiber reinforced elastomeric product as defined in claim 19 wherein the fibers have a thickness within the range of 0.00015 to 0.00075 inch.

Claim 23

A fiber reinforced elastomeric product as defined in claim 19 wherein the glass coated fibers are distributed in the elastomer in the form of fibers individually coated with said material.

Claim 24

A fiber reinforced elastomeric product as defined in claim 19 wherein the glass coated fibers are distributed in the elastomer in the form of a bundle impregnated with an impregnant selected from the group consisting of the elastomer compatible polymeric material and a mixture of the elastomer compatible polymeric material and an anchoring agent.

Claim 25

A fiber reinforced elastomeric product as defined in claim 23 wherein the individual glass coated fibers forming the bundle have a thin coating of the anchoring agent on the surfaces thereof.

Claim 26

IN THE METHOD FOR TREATING METAL FIBERS TO ENHANCE THE BONDING RELATIONSHIP OF METAL FIBERS WITH ELASTOMERIC MATERIALS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METAL FIBER REINFORCED ELASTOMERIC PRODUCTS IN WHICH AN ELASTOMER CONSTITUTES THE CONTINUOUS PHASE IN WHICH THE METAL FIBERS ARE DISTRIBUTED, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING COATING THE METAL FIBERS WITH A GLASS MATERIAL TO FORM

Claim 27

IN THE METHOD FOR TREATING METAL FIBERS TO ENHANCE THE BONDING RELATIONSHIP OF METAL FIBERS WITH ELASTOMERIC MATERIALS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METAL FIBER REINFORCED ELASTOMERIC PRODUCTS IN WHICH AN ELASTOMER CONSTITUTES THE CONTINUOUS PHASE IN WHICH THE METAL FIBERS ARE DISTRIBUTED, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING COATING THE METAL FIBERS WITH A GLASS MATERIAL TO FORM

Claim 28

A method as defined in claim 25 wherein the metal fibers are passed through a molten bath of glass and then passed through the die to smooth the glass coating thus formed.

Claim 29

A method as defined in claim 25 wherein the metal fibers have a thickness sufficient to retain their fibrous characteristics.

Claim 30

A method as defined in claim 25 wherein the fibers have a thickness within the range of 0.00015 to 0.00075 inch.

Claim 31

A method as defined in claim 25 wherein the glass coated metal fibers are individually coated.

Claim 32

A method as defined in claim 25 wherein the glass coated metal fibers are formed into a bundle and the bundle is impregnated to coat the fibers.

Claim 33

A method as defined in claim 25 wherein the metal fibers are contacted with a glass material while at an elevated temperature to deposit glass on the surfaces thereof, and then passed through a die to smooth the glass coating thus formed.

Claim 34

A method as defined in claim 31 wherein the glass material is selected from the group consisting of glass frit and molten glass.

Claim 35

A method as defined in claim 31 wherein the metal is at a temperature within the range of 1200* to 1900*F. when contacted with the glass material.

Claim 36

A method as defined in claim 30 wherein the bundle is impregnated with an elastomer compatible polymeric material.

Claim 37

A method as defined in claim 34 which includes the step of individually coating the glass coated metal fibers with an anchoring agent prior to formation into bundles.