US3977294A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Composite armor and method
Assignee: Fiber Materials Inc
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Filing: 1971-09-07
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Granted: 1976-08-31
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Expires: 1991-09-07
Abstract
Abstract A composite laminate material is described comprising a plurality of layers of graphite sheet material coated on at least one side thereof with a ceramic material having a density greater than about 50% of its theoretical density, preferably, up to about 95% or greater theoretical density. The ceramic material constitutes at least 90% of the thickness of the composite laminate. The composite laminate is formed by applying to one or both sides of graphite sheet material a ceramic layer compacted to at least 50% theoretical density. A plurality of layers of the ceramic coated graphite sheets are then stacked and pressure molded by conventional techniques with the various layers being adhered together using a suitable adhesive. The resulting laminate is light weight and thin but has sufficient strength to be used as armor material to protect against projectiles. The laminate material is easily shaped and cut and because of its light weight is especially useful for making body armor.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul F. Jahn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 00:20
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B9/00; B32B9/04; B32B7/00; B32B7/04; B32B7/12; B32B9/005; B32B9/007; F; F41; F41H; F41H5/00; F41H5/02; F41H5/04; F41H5/0414; F41H5/0428; F41H5/0435; B32B2255/00; B32B2255/20; B32B2307/00; B32B2307/70; B32B2307/72; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/911; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/30; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/30; Y10T442/3472; Y10T442/3504; Y10T442/3512
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
52 words
A composite laminate material comprising a plurality of layers of graphite sheet material each having adjacent at least one side thereof a layer of ceramic material having a density greater than about 50% of its theoretical density, said ceramic material constituting at least about 90% of the thickness of the composite laminate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
52 words
A composite laminate material comprising a plurality of layers of graphite sheet material each having adjacent at least one side thereof a layer of ceramic material having a density greater than about 50% of its theoretical density, said ceramic material constituting at least about 90% of the thickness of the composite laminate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
A composite material comprising a laminate of a plurality of layers of graphite sheet material each having a thickness of not substantially greater than about 5 mil, and having adjacent at least one side thereof a layer of ceramic material having a density greater than about 50% of its theoretical density, said ceramic material constituting at least about 90% of the thickness of said composite laminate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
A composite material comprising a laminate of a plurality of layers of graphite sheet material each having a thickness of not substantially greater than about 5 mil, and having adjacent at least one side thereof a layer of ceramic material having a density greater than about 50% of its theoretical density, said ceramic material constituting at least about 90% of the thickness of said composite laminate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
Composite laminate as in claim 1 wherein the graphite sheet material comprises graphite cloth having a thickness of about up to 15 mils.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
Composite laminate as in claim 1 wherein the graphite sheet material comprises a graphite filament tape having a thickness of up to about 5 mils.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
Composite laminate as in claim 1 wherein the ceramic material has a density of greater than about 95% of its theoretical density.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
Composite laminate as in claim 2 wherein the ceramic material has a density of greater than about 95% of its theoretical density.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
Composite laminate as in claim 2 wherein the ceramic material comprises at least about 95% of the thickness of the composite laminate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
Composite laminate as in claim 1 wherein the composite laminate comprises not less than 20 layers of graphite sheet material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
Composite laminate as in claim 1 wherein the ceramic material is selected from the group consisting of a boride of aluminum, molybdenum, tantalum, thorium, titanium, tungsten, and zirconium; a carbide of aluminum, boron, molybdenum, tantalum, thorium, titanium, tungsten and zirconium; and an oxide of aluminum, molybdenum, tantalum, thorium, titanium, tungsten and zirconium, mixtures thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
Composite laminate as in claim 2 wherein the graphite sheet material comprises graphite ribbon having a thickness of up to about 0.5 mils.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
Composite laminate as in claim 2 wherein the laminate comprises between not less than 20 layers of graphite sheet material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
Composite laminate as in claim 2 wherein the ceramic film comprises a boride of aluminum, molybdenum, tantalum, thorium, titanium, tungsten, and zirconium; a carbide of aluminum, boron, molybdenum, tantalum, thorium, titanium, tungsten and zirconium; and an oxide of aluminum, molybdenum, tantalum, thorium, titanium, tungsten and zirconium, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of preparing a composite laminate material of the type herein described constituting at least about 90% thickness ceramic, comprising the steps of (1) applying to at least one surface of a graphite sheet material a layer of ceramic material; (2) compacting said layer of ceramic material to at least about 50% theoretical density by hot rolling said ceramic material coated graphite sheet; and (3) laminating a plurality of compacted ceramic material-coated graphite sheets of suitable thickness to form the desired laminate.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of preparing a composite laminate material of the type herein described constituting at least about 90% thickness ceramic, comprising the steps of (1) applying to at least one surface of a graphite sheet material a layer of ceramic material; (2) compacting said layer of ceramic material to at least about 50% theoretical density by hot rolling said ceramic material coated graphite sheet; and (3) laminating a plurality of compacted ceramic material-coated graphite sheets of suitable thickness to form the desired laminate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as in claim 13 wherein said hot rolling is effected at a pressure between about 200 and 1000 psi and at a temperature between about 1000° and 2000°C.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 14 wherein said hot rolling is effected for a time sufficient to compact said ceramic materials to about 95% to 98% theoretical density.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as in claim 13 including the steps of coating a graphite sheet material with a ceramic slip, drying said slip, and hot rolling said coated sheet at a pressure between about 200 and 1000 psi and a temperature of between about 1000° and 2000°C to form said coated graphite sheet material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 16 wherein said hot rolling is effected for a time sufficient to compact said ceramic material to about 95% to 98% theoretical density.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-08-31 | 1980-03-01 | 1980-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-31 | 1984-03-01 | 1984-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-31 | 1988-03-01 | 1988-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |