US4407685A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Metallized film transfer process
Assignee: Lanteris Space LLC
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Filing: 1981-05-04
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Granted: 1983-10-04
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Expires: 2001-05-04
Abstract
Abstract A release film is coated with a thin layer of metal by, for example, a vapor deposition process. The film is then stretched over a composite object, made, e.g., of fiberglass-epoxy or graphite-epoxy, which one desires to metallize. A treatment involving either vacuum or pressure and that may involve heat is used to transfer the thin metal layer to the composite object. The stretchable film is then peeled off the object, leaving a metal coating bonded to the object. The epoxy resin or other adhesive in the composite material gives structural integrity to the object as well as provides a bond for the metal, so that the composite object may be molded and metallized in one step. Alternatively, a two-step process of molding then metallizing or metallizing then molding can be employed.
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrence B. Hankland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 12:51
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B15/00; B32B15/04; B32B15/08; B29; B29C; B29C37/00; B29C37/0025; B29C37/0028; B29C70/00; B29C70/04; B29C70/28; B29C70/40; B29C70/42; B29C70/44; B32B7/00; B32B7/04; B32B7/12; C; C23; C23C; C23C14/00; C23C14/0005; H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/02; H05K3/022; H05K3/025; B29C33/00; B29C33/56; B29C33/68; B29C43/00; B29C43/02; B29C43/10; B29C43/12; B32B2323/00; B32B2323/04; B32B2379/00; B32B2379/08; H05K1/00; H05K1/02; H05K1/0284; H05K3/0011; H05K3/0014; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1002; Y10T156/1028; Y10T156/1043; Y10T156/1044; Y10T156/1048; Y10T156/19; Y10T156/1928; Y10T156/1944
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
Method for applying a metal coating onto a composite object having a compoundly curved shape and having a high modulus fiber component and an adhesive component, wherein the adhesive component is from the class consisting essentially of thermoplastic adhesives and B-staged thermosetting adhesives; said method comprising the steps of: depositing by vapor deposition a thin layer of said metal less than 0.0002 inches thick onto a fluorocarbon-based polymer release film to form a metallized film; joining together several of said metallized films side-by-side to provide a single large metallized film having a sufficient size to cover said object; placing said large metallized film against the composite object, with the metal side facing the composite object, in such a way that no additional adhesive agent is placed between said metal and said object; in a vacuum formed by a single vacuum source, adhering said metal to said object while simultaneously applying pressure to said object and to said large metallized film so that said object is molded into said compoundly curved shape and coated with said large metallized film in same step; and peeling said release film away from said metallized composite object leaving just said metal coating on said composite object.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
201 words
Method for applying a metal coating onto a composite object having a compoundly curved shape and having a high modulus fiber component and an adhesive component, wherein the adhesive component is from the class consisting essentially of thermoplastic adhesives and B-staged thermosetting adhesives; said method comprising the steps of: depositing by vapor deposition a thin layer of said metal less than 0.0002 inches thick onto a fluorocarbon-based polymer release film to form a metallized film; joining together several of said metallized films side-by-side to provide a single large metallized film having a sufficient size to cover said object; placing said large metallized film against the composite object, with the metal side facing the composite object, in such a way that no additional adhesive agent is placed between said metal and said object; in a vacuum formed by a single vacuum source, adhering said metal to said object while simultaneously applying pressure to said object and to said large metallized film so that said object is molded into said compoundly curved shape and coated with said large metallized film in same step; and peeling said release film away from said metallized composite object leaving just said metal coating on said composite object.
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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) | 1986-10-03 | 1987-04-04 | 1987-10-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-10-03 | 1991-04-04 | 1991-10-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-10-03 | 1995-04-04 | 1995-10-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |