US3909497A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solid polymers thermally degradable to flowable compositions
Assignee: SRI International Inc
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Filing: 1974-04-12
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Granted: 1975-09-30
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Expires: 1994-04-12
Abstract
Abstract A synthetic polymeric solid contains heat-sensitive groups which cleave at a temperature substantially lower than that at which thermal degradation would occur in their absence. Cleavage is effected essentially in the absence of materials reactive with the resulting molecular fragments, which are of such kind, size and number as to constitute a liquid composition. Such polymers have a variety of uses, such as binder components of salvageable propellant charges, heat strippable adhesives, degradable potting compositions, etc. The degradation products are useful in their own right as adhesives, plasticizers, fillers, etc. The invention conserves resources and avoids pollution.
Inventors
- 👤 Dale G Hendry
- 👤 Marion E Hill
- 👤 Howard M Peters
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 04:40
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08G; C08G69/00; C08G69/48; C08G18/00; C08G18/06; C08G18/08; C08G18/10; C08G18/28; C08G18/30; C08G18/38; C08G18/3819; C08G18/3836; C08G18/40; C08G18/60; C08G18/603; C08G18/70; C08G18/72; C08G18/77; C08G18/78; C08G18/7856; C08G18/80; C08G18/8003; C08G18/8054; C08G18/8058; C08G59/00; C08G59/18; C08G59/20; C08G59/22; C08G59/28; C08G59/40; C08G59/4007; C08G59/4014; C08G59/4028; C08G63/00; C08G63/68; C08G63/685; C08G63/6854; C08G63/6856; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S149/00; Y10S149/124; Y10S260/00; Y10S260/43; Y10S526/00; Y10S526/914
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
19 words
A PROCESS FOR FORMING A FLOWABLE COMPOSITION IN SITU BY THERMAL DEGRADATION OF A SOLID POLYMER. SAID PROCESS CMPRISING:
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
19 words
A PROCESS FOR FORMING A FLOWABLE COMPOSITION IN SITU BY THERMAL DEGRADATION OF A SOLID POLYMER. SAID PROCESS CMPRISING:
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
85 words
PROVIDING A SOLID POLYMER FORMED BY THE ACTION OF HEAT, RADIATION OR A CHEMICAL CURING AGENT ON A RESIN WHICH IS NOT FULLY CURED, SAID AGENT OR SAID RESIN OR BOTH CONTAINING A PLURALITY OF HEAT SENSITIVE SKELETAL SEGMENTS, THE COMPOSITION OF SAID SEGMENTS IN SAID POLYMER BEING SUCH THAT AT LEAST HALF OF THOSE PRESENT AT ANY TIME WILL HAVE BEEN CLEAVED AFTER 1 HOUR AT A TEMPERATURE TD AT WHICH ESSENTIALLY ALL OTHER CHEMICAL BONDS IN SAID POLYMER REMAIN UNBROKEN AFTER 1 HOUR,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
85 words
PROVIDING A SOLID POLYMER FORMED BY THE ACTION OF HEAT, RADIATION OR A CHEMICAL CURING AGENT ON A RESIN WHICH IS NOT FULLY CURED, SAID AGENT OR SAID RESIN OR BOTH CONTAINING A PLURALITY OF HEAT SENSITIVE SKELETAL SEGMENTS, THE COMPOSITION OF SAID SEGMENTS IN SAID POLYMER BEING SUCH THAT AT LEAST HALF OF THOSE PRESENT AT ANY TIME WILL HAVE BEEN CLEAVED AFTER 1 HOUR AT A TEMPERATURE TD AT WHICH ESSENTIALLY ALL OTHER CHEMICAL BONDS IN SAID POLYMER REMAIN UNBROKEN AFTER 1 HOUR,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
HEATING SAID POLYMER, AT A TEMPERATURE (TH) WHICH IS NOT HIGHER THAN TD, UNTIL THE POLYMER IS DEGRADED TO A MASS WHICH IS FLOWABLE AT OR BELOW TH. SAID POLYMER BEING FORMED AT A TEMPERATURE LESS THAN TD, AND SAID HEATING BEING CARRIED OUT ESSENTIALLY IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY MATERIALS REACTIVE WITH SAID MASS.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
HEATING SAID POLYMER, AT A TEMPERATURE (TH) WHICH IS NOT HIGHER THAN TD, UNTIL THE POLYMER IS DEGRADED TO A MASS WHICH IS FLOWABLE AT OR BELOW TH. SAID POLYMER BEING FORMED AT A TEMPERATURE LESS THAN TD, AND SAID HEATING BEING CARRIED OUT ESSENTIALLY IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY MATERIALS REACTIVE WITH SAID MASS.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
heating said polymer, at a temperature (TH) which is not higher than TD, until the polymer is degraded to a mass which is flowable at or below TH, said polymer being formed at a temperature less than TD, and said heating being carried out essentially in the absence of any materials reactive with said mass.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
heating said polymer, at a temperature (TH) which is not higher than TD, until the polymer is degraded to a mass which is flowable at or below TH, said polymer being formed at a temperature less than TD, and said heating being carried out essentially in the absence of any materials reactive with said mass.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
The process of claim 1 in which each of said heat-sensitive skeletal segments contains a heat-sensitive group selected from the class consisting of (I) azo groups; (II) carbonate groups, (III) ester groups and (IV) amine oxide groups, said types of groups being defined as follows: I is a divalent radical having the formula
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 2 in which said heat-sensitive group is a type I divalent radical.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 2 in which said heat-sensitive group is a type II divalent radical.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 in which said solid polymer constitutes a shaped member of an article of manufacture.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 5 including as an additional step forming the shaped member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 6 in which the shaped member is formed by disposing and shaping the uncured resin in place in said article and then curing it.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
The process of claim 5 in which the article of manufacture comprises other elements in addition to the polymeric solid and the flowable composition resulting from the degradation of the solid is dissolved in a non-solvent for said other members and separated therefrom.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 7 in which the article of manufacture is a munitions charge and the shaped member is a binder resin.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
10 words
A flowable composition produced by the process of claim 1.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |