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US4752428A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Injection molding process with reactive gas treatment

Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals Inc
•
Filing: 1987-01-28
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Granted: 1988-06-21
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Expires: 2007-01-28
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Abstract

Abstract The present invention is a process for making shaped articles by injecting a thermoplastic or thermoset polymer into a mold cavity in which is maintained at atmosphere containing between 0.1 mole % and 50 mole % F 2 and at least 20 ppm O 2 while said polymer is being injected into the mold. The process results in shaped articles having altered physical and chemical characteristics. A weld line formed where two interfaces of the polymer are joined in the mold cavity serves as a clean break point when pressure is applied to an article formed by the process. The atmosphere in the mold cavity may contain SO 3 .

Inventors

  • 👤 Mark A. Williams
  • 👤 Bernard D. Bauman
  • 👤 David R. Ruprecht
  • 👤 Paul D. Marsh

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 04:27
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C45/00; C; C08; C08J; C08J5/00; C08J5/12; C08J5/124; B29C37/00; B29C37/0053; B29C37/0057; B29C45/17; B29C45/1701; B29C2791/00; B29C2791/004; B29C2791/005; C08J2323/00; C08J2323/02; C08J2323/10; C08J2323/12

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim 118 words
In a process for making shaped articles by injecting a plasticized thermoplastic or thermoset polymer into a mold cavity, the improvement for altering the physical and chemical characteristics of the resulting article which comprises: maintaining in said mold cavity an atmosphere containing between 0.1 mole % and 50 mole % F 2 and at least 20 ppm O 2 while said polymer is being injected into the mold cavity, and forming a weld line where two interfaces of the plasticized polymer are joined in the mold cavity; the physical and chemical characteristics of the resulting article being altered such that said weld line is capable of forming a clean break point when pressure is applied to the article.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 118 words
In a process for making shaped articles by injecting a plasticized thermoplastic or thermoset polymer into a mold cavity, the improvement for altering the physical and chemical characteristics of the resulting article which comprises: maintaining in said mold cavity an atmosphere containing between 0.1 mole % and 50 mole % F 2 and at least 20 ppm O 2 while said polymer is being injected into the mold cavity, and forming a weld line where two interfaces of the plasticized polymer are joined in the mold cavity; the physical and chemical characteristics of the resulting article being altered such that said weld line is capable of forming a clean break point when pressure is applied to the article.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 26 words
A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said atmosphere in the mold cavity contains between 2 mole % and 10 mole % F 2 .
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the balance of the atmosphere in the mold cavity is inert gaseous components.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 19 words
A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the balance of the atmosphere in the mold cavity is air.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 16 words
A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic or thermoset polymer is a polyolefin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 21 words
A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the pressure within the mold cavity is maintained between 20 and 60 psig.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 22 words
A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said atmosphere in the mold cavity contains at least 100 ppm O 2 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 135 words
A process for injection molding an article from a plasticized thermoplastic or thermoset polymer such that the resulting article has altered physical and chemical properties, said process comprising: (a) evacuating or displacing air or other gas from the cavity of a mold; (b) introducing a reactive gas containing between 0.1 mole % and 50 mole % F 2 into the mold cavity; (c) plasticizing the thermoplastic polymer or blending the thermoset polymer; and (d) injecting the resultant polymer into the mold cavity containing the reactive gas, and forming a weld line where two interfaces of the plasticized polymer are joined in the mold cavity; the physical and chemical characteristics of the resulting article being altered such that said weld line is capable of forming a clean break point when pressure is applied to the article.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 135 words
A process for injection molding an article from a plasticized thermoplastic or thermoset polymer such that the resulting article has altered physical and chemical properties, said process comprising: (a) evacuating or displacing air or other gas from the cavity of a mold; (b) introducing a reactive gas containing between 0.1 mole % and 50 mole % F 2 into the mold cavity; (c) plasticizing the thermoplastic polymer or blending the thermoset polymer; and (d) injecting the resultant polymer into the mold cavity containing the reactive gas, and forming a weld line where two interfaces of the plasticized polymer are joined in the mold cavity; the physical and chemical characteristics of the resulting article being altered such that said weld line is capable of forming a clean break point when pressure is applied to the article.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 24 words
A process in accordance with claim 8 wherein said reactive gas contains between 2 mole % and 10 mole % F 2 in air.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 13 words
A process in accordance with claim 8 wherein said polymer is a polyolefin.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 20 words
A process in accordance with claim 8 wherein said mold cavity is pressurized to between 20 psig and 60 psig.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 22 words
A process in accordance with claim 8 wherein the surface of said article has increased surface energy relative to an untreated article.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 24 words
A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein the surface of said article has improved bonding and adhesion characteristics relative to an untreated article.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 21 words
A process in accordance with claim 8 wherein said reactive gas also contains at least 20 ppm of O 2 .
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 107 words
In a process for making shaped articles by injecting a plasticized thermoplastic or thermoset polymer into a mold cavity, the improvement for altering the physical and chemical characteristics of the resulting article which comprises: maintaining in said mold cavity an atmosphere containing at least 0.1 mole % SO 3 while said polymer is being injected into the mold, and forming a weld line where two interfaces of the plasticized polymer are joined in the mold cavity; the physical and chemical characteristics of the resulting article being altered such that said weld line is capable of forming a clean break point when pressure is applied to the article.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 107 words
In a process for making shaped articles by injecting a plasticized thermoplastic or thermoset polymer into a mold cavity, the improvement for altering the physical and chemical characteristics of the resulting article which comprises: maintaining in said mold cavity an atmosphere containing at least 0.1 mole % SO 3 while said polymer is being injected into the mold, and forming a weld line where two interfaces of the plasticized polymer are joined in the mold cavity; the physical and chemical characteristics of the resulting article being altered such that said weld line is capable of forming a clean break point when pressure is applied to the article.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 30 words
A process in accordance with claim 15 wherein the atmosphere in the mold cavity contains between 0.1 mole %-50 mole % SO 3 and the balance being inert gaseous components.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 21 words
A process in accordance with claim 15 wherein the pressure within the mold cavity is maintained between 20 and 60 psig.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-06-21 1991-12-21 1992-06-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-06-21 1995-12-21 1996-06-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-06-21 1999-12-21 2000-06-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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