US4879176A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Surface modification of semicrystalline polymers
Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1988-04-27
•
Granted: 1989-11-07
•
Expires: 2008-04-27
Abstract
Abstract Semicrystalline polymers can have predetermined amounts of their surfaces rendered quasi-amorphous by irradiation. Polymer surfaces which are so modified can display enhanced ability to accept bonding to other materials.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew J. Ouderkirk
- 👤 Douglas S. Dunn
- 👤 Robert W. Warner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:09
CPC Classifications
B; B05; B05D; B05D3/00; B05D3/06; B05D3/061; B05D3/062; B05D3/063; B29; B29C; B29C59/00; B29C59/16; B29C71/00; B29C71/0063; C; C08; C08J; C08J5/00; C08J5/12; C08J5/121; C08J7/00; C08J7/04; C08J7/0427; C08J7/043; C08J7/046; B29C35/00; B29C35/02; B29C35/08; B29C35/0805; B29C2035/0827; B29C2035/0838; B29K; B29K2995/00; B29K2995/0037; B29K2995/0039; B29K2995/0041; C08J2327/00; C08J2327/02; C08J2327/04; C08J2327/06; C08J2367/00; C08J2367/02; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/25; Y10T428/26; Y10T428/263; Y10T428/264; Y10T428/265; Y10T428/31; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/3154; Y10T428/31544; Y10T428/31551; Y10T428/31725; Y10T428/31739; Y10T428/31786; Y10T428/31855; Y10T428/31909; Y10T428/31913; Y10T428/31931; Y10T428/31938
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A polymer article comprising a semicrystalline polymer in the form of a layer, sheet, film or coating having on at least one surface thereof areas having thicknesses of at least 5 nm of the same polymer in a quasi-amorphous state, said areas comprising from 5% to 100% of said at least one surface, wherein said semicrystalline polymer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(vinyl chloride), poly(vinylidene chloride), polytetrafluoroethylene, nylon, polyurethane, polyester, polyolefin, and copolymers thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
78 words
A polymer article comprising a semicrystalline polymer in the form of a layer, sheet, film or coating having on at least one surface thereof areas having thicknesses of at least 5 nm of the same polymer in a quasi-amorphous state, said areas comprising from 5% to 100% of said at least one surface, wherein said semicrystalline polymer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(vinyl chloride), poly(vinylidene chloride), polytetrafluoroethylene, nylon, polyurethane, polyester, polyolefin, and copolymers thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The article of claim 1 wherein at least 1% of said at least one surface is quasi-amorphous and the atom/atom, oxygen/carbon ratio of the quasi-amorphous areas is the same or less than that ratio in the semicrystalline polymer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said areas have a depth of at least 10 nm and comprise from 5 to 100% of said at least one surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said areas comprise to 100 percent of said at least one surface and the atom/atom, oxygen/carbon ratio of the quasi-amorphous areas is the same or less than that ratio in the semicrystalline polymer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The article of claim 3 wherein said areas comprise 80 to 100 percent of said at least one surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the quasi-amorphous area has a thickness of at least 5 nm beginning at the surface of said polymeric article.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The article of claim 3 wherein the quasi-amorphous area has a thickness of at least 5 nm and the atom/atom, oxygen/carbon ratio of the amorphous areas is the same or less than that ratio in the semicrystalline polymer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the quasi-amorphous area has a thickness of at least 10 nm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of claim 6 wherein the quasi-amorphous area has a thickness of between 20 and 500 nm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of claim 2 wherein the quasi-amorphous area has a thickness of between 20 and 500 nm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of claim 3 wherein the quasi-amorphous area has a thickness of between 20 and 100 nm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said quasi-amorphous area has a thickness in the range of 5 to 10,000 nm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The article of claim 5 wherein said quasi-amorphous area has a thickness .in the range of 5 to 10,000 nm and the atom/atom, oxygen/carbon ratio of the quasi-amorphous areas is the same or less than that ratio in the semicrystalline polymer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said quasi-amorphous area has a thickness in the range of 20 to 500 nm and has an optical density, in the absence of dyes or pigments, which differ from that of the semicrystalline polymer by less than 0.1 in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
73 words
The article of claim 3 wherein said quasi-amorphous area has a thickness in the range of 20 to 250 nm and has an optical density, in the absence of dyes or pigments, which differ from that of the semicrystalline polymer by less than 0.1 in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum and the atom/atom, oxygen/carbon ratio of the quasi-amorphous areas is the same or less than that ratio in the semicrystalline polymer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The article of claim 1 wherein said semicrystalline polymer contains at least 0.05% by weight of a radiation absorbing dye or pigment.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The article of claim 6 wherein said semicrystalline polymer contains at least 0.05% by weight of a radiation absorbing dye or pigment.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The article of claim 3 wherein said semicrystalline polymer contains at least 0.05% by weight of a radiation absorbing dye or pigment and the atom/atom, oxygen/carbon ratio of the quasi-amorphous areas is the same or less than the ratio in the semicrystalline polymer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the surface is smooth and has a reflectivity of 9% or less to 550 nm radiation at an incident angle between 80° and 90°.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The article of claim 2 wherein the surface is smooth and has a reflectivity of 9% or less to 550 nm radiation at an incident angle between 80° and 90°.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The article of claim 15 wherein the surface is smooth and has a reflectivity of 9% or less to 550 nm radiation at an incident angle between 80° and 90°.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The polymeric article of claim 1 wherein said surface consists essentially of said semicrystalline polymer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The polymeric article of claim 3 wherein said surface consists essentially of said semicrystalline polymer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The polymeric article of claim 3 wherein said surface consists essentially of said semicrystalline polymer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The polymer article of claim 10 wherein said surface consists essentially of said semicrystalline polymer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The polymeric article of claim 14 wherein said surface consists essentially of said semicrystalline polymer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
110 words
A polymeric article comprising a semicrystalline polymer in the form of a layer, sheet, film or coating having on at least one surface thereof areas of said surface having thicknesses of at least 5 nm from the top of said surface, said areas comprising from 5% to 100% of said at least one surface, which areas have short-range ordering of the polymer consistent with an amorphous state of said polymer and having long-range ordering of the polymer consistent with a semicrystalline state of said polymer, wherein said semicrystalline polymer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(vinyl chloride), poly(vinylidene chloride), polytetrafluoroethylene, nylon, polyurethane, polyester, polyolefin, and copolymers thereof.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
110 words
A polymeric article comprising a semicrystalline polymer in the form of a layer, sheet, film or coating having on at least one surface thereof areas of said surface having thicknesses of at least 5 nm from the top of said surface, said areas comprising from 5% to 100% of said at least one surface, which areas have short-range ordering of the polymer consistent with an amorphous state of said polymer and having long-range ordering of the polymer consistent with a semicrystalline state of said polymer, wherein said semicrystalline polymer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(vinyl chloride), poly(vinylidene chloride), polytetrafluoroethylene, nylon, polyurethane, polyester, polyolefin, and copolymers thereof.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
The polymeric article of claim 27 wherein said surface consists essentially of said semicrystalline polymer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
99 words
A polymeric article comprising a semicrystalline polymer in the form of a layer, sheet, film or coating having a crystalline orientation therein and having on at least one surface thereof areas having thicknesses of at least 5 nm of the same polymer in a quasi-amorphous state, said areas comprising from 5% to 100% of said at least one surface, said quasi-amorphous areas having a latent memory for the crystallite orientation of said semicrystalline polymer, wherein said semicrystalline polymer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(vinyl chloride), poly(vinylidene chloride), polytetrafluoroethylene, nylon, polyurethane, polyester, polyolefin, and copolymers thereof.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
99 words
A polymeric article comprising a semicrystalline polymer in the form of a layer, sheet, film or coating having a crystalline orientation therein and having on at least one surface thereof areas having thicknesses of at least 5 nm of the same polymer in a quasi-amorphous state, said areas comprising from 5% to 100% of said at least one surface, said quasi-amorphous areas having a latent memory for the crystallite orientation of said semicrystalline polymer, wherein said semicrystalline polymer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(vinyl chloride), poly(vinylidene chloride), polytetrafluoroethylene, nylon, polyurethane, polyester, polyolefin, and copolymers thereof.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The article of claim 29 wherein said semi-crystalline polymer is in the form of a layer, sheet, film, or coating.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
The article of claim 30 wherein the atom/atom, oxygen/carbon ratio of the quasi-amorphous areas is the same or less than that ratio in the semicrystalline polymer.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
60 words
The article of claim 30 wherein said quasi-amorphous areas have a thickness in the range of 20 to 500 nm beginning at the surface of said polymeric article and have an optical density, in the absence of dyes or pigment, which differ from that of the semicrystalline polymer by less than 0.1 in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
65 words
A polymeric article comprising a semicrystalline polymer having a crystallite orientation therein and having on at least one surface thereof areas having thicknesses of at least 5 nm of the same polymer in a quasi-amorphous state, said quasi-amorphous areas having a latent memory for the crystallite orientation of said semicrystalline polymer wherein said quasi-amorphous areas comprise 80 to 100% of said at least one surface.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
65 words
A polymeric article comprising a semicrystalline polymer having a crystallite orientation therein and having on at least one surface thereof areas having thicknesses of at least 5 nm of the same polymer in a quasi-amorphous state, said quasi-amorphous areas having a latent memory for the crystallite orientation of said semicrystalline polymer wherein said quasi-amorphous areas comprise 80 to 100% of said at least one surface.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
The article of claim 33 wherein said semicrystalline polymer is in the form of a layer, sheet, film, or coating.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
26 words
The article of claim 34 wherein the atom/atom, oxygen/carbon ratio of the quasi-amorphous areas is the same or less than that ratio in the semicrystalline polymer.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
52 words
The article of claim 34 wherein said quasi-amorphous areas have a thickness in the range of 20 to 500 nm and have an optical density, in the absence of dyes or pigments, which differ from that of the semicrystalline polymer by less than 0.1 in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
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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) | 1992-11-06 | 1993-05-08 | 1993-11-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-11-06 | 1997-05-08 | 1997-11-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-11-06 | 2001-05-08 | 2001-11-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |