US4900388A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for laminating polymeric sheet material
Assignee: Biflex Development Partners Ltd
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Filing: 1988-09-16
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Granted: 1990-02-13
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Expires: 2008-09-16
Abstract
Abstract The present invention concerns methods and apparatus for laminating polymeric sheet materials wherein the use of a separate adhesive and/or the use of heat as a bonding means are avoided. In particular, methods and apparatus are disclosed wherein at least one polymeric sheet is exposed to a flowing of gaseous cold plasma to form free radicals on the surface thereof. Said free radicals serve to effect bonding upon application of such treated polymeric sheet to a second polymeric sheet. In preferred embodiments, approximately 180,000 to 500,000 volts of electromagnetic energy are applied to a stream of gaseous material, such as argon gas, and utilizing a radio wave frequency discharge of approximately 12.56 mega-Hertz. In some preferred embodiments, the cold plasma may be applied at an effective pressure of approximately 1.1 Torr in the reaction area.
Inventors
- 👤 Ihor Wyslotsky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:41
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B37/00; B32B37/12; B32B38/00; B32B38/0008; B32B2305/00; B32B2305/74; B32B2553/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for laminating at least two polymeric sheets into a composite having improved properties, said method comprising the steps of: providing a first sheet of polymeric material; exposing a surface of such first sheet of polymeric material to cold plasma to activate the surface thereof, such cold plasma generated by application of at least approximately between 18,000-500,000 volts of electromagnetic energy onto a stream of gaseous material for application to such first sheet of polymeric material; and disposing such activated surface of such first sheet into intimate proximity with a second sheet of polymeric material to effect adhesion therebetween to form a laminated composite in the absence of any substantial heating of either of such sheets and without application to either of such sheets of a separate adhesive.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for laminating at least two polymeric sheets into a composite having improved properties, said method comprising the steps of: providing a first sheet of polymeric material; exposing a surface of such first sheet of polymeric material to cold plasma to activate the surface thereof, such cold plasma generated by application of at least approximately between 18,000-500,000 volts of electromagnetic energy onto a stream of gaseous material for application to such first sheet of polymeric material; and disposing such activated surface of such first sheet into intimate proximity with a second sheet of polymeric material to effect adhesion therebetween to form a laminated composite in the absence of any substantial heating of either of such sheets and without application to either of such sheets of a separate adhesive.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The cold plasma laminating method of claim 1 further comprising the step of application of pressure to such first sheet and such second sheet to facilitate laminate formation therefrom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cold plasma laminating method of claim 1 wherein such first and second polymeric sheets are composed of different polymeric materials.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The cold plasma method of claim 1 wherein at least one of such first sheet and such second sheet is disposed in rolled form prior to such laminating to form such composite.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The cold plasma method of claim 4 wherein such laminated composite is wound into rolled form.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein such cold plasma comprises cold argon plasma.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The cold plasma method of claim 1 wherein such cold plasma is generated by application of electromagnetic energy discharge in the radio wave frequency range to a cold plasma generatable gaseous medium
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cold plasma method of claim wherein such radio frequency discharge is approximately of the level of 12.56 megaHertz.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The cold plasma method of claim 1 wherein such cold plasma is maintained at a selected pressure of approximately at least 1.1 torr during such exposure of such first sheet thereto.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 1 wherein such exposure of such first sheet of polymeric film material to such cold plasma results in the formation of substantial numbers of free radicals on the surface thereof for reaction with the surface of such second sheet of polymeric film material to effect such adhesion therebetween without the use of any substantial heating of either of such first and second sheet, or the application of any separate adhesive thereto.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The cold plasma method of claim 1 wherein the surface of such first sheet of polymeric material is exposed to such cold plasma for a period of approximately 5.0 milliseconds.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The cold plasma method of claim 1 wherein such first sheet is run through such cold plasma at a rate of 500 feet per second.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
The cold plasma method of claim 1 wherein such cold plasma is generated by means of application of energy of a selected frequency to a gas and such gas has a flow rate of at least 10 milliliters per second per linear meter onto such surface of such first sheet.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
134 words
A method for laminating at least two polymeric sheets into a composite having improved properties, said method comprising the steps of: providing a first sheet of polymeric material; exposing a surface of such first sheet of polymeric material to cold plasma comprising an essentially inert gas to activate the surface thereof, such cold plasma generated by application of at least approximately between 180,000-500,000 volts of electromagnetic energy onto a stream of gaseous material for application to such first sheet of polymeric material; and disposing such activated surface of such first sheet into intimate proximately with a second sheet of polymeric material to effect adhesion therebetween to form a laminated composite in the absence of any substantial heating of either of such sheets and without application to either of such sheets of a separate adhesive.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
134 words
A method for laminating at least two polymeric sheets into a composite having improved properties, said method comprising the steps of: providing a first sheet of polymeric material; exposing a surface of such first sheet of polymeric material to cold plasma comprising an essentially inert gas to activate the surface thereof, such cold plasma generated by application of at least approximately between 180,000-500,000 volts of electromagnetic energy onto a stream of gaseous material for application to such first sheet of polymeric material; and disposing such activated surface of such first sheet into intimate proximately with a second sheet of polymeric material to effect adhesion therebetween to form a laminated composite in the absence of any substantial heating of either of such sheets and without application to either of such sheets of a separate adhesive.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The cold plasma method of claim 14 wherein said cold plasma comprises argon gas.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for laminating at least two polymeric sheets into a composite having improved properties, said method comprising the steps of: providing a first sheet of polymeric material; exposing a surface of such first sheet of polymeric material to cold plasma to activate the surface thereof, such cold plasma generated by application of at least approximately between 180,000-500,000 volts of electromagnetic energy onto a stream of gaseous material for application of such first sheet of polymeric material; disposing such activated surface of such first sheet into intimate proximity with a second sheet of polymeric material to effect adhesion therebetween to form a laminated composite in the absence of any substantial heating of either of such sheets and without application to either of such sheets of a separate adhesive; and wherein the pressure of such cold plasma and the voltage applied thereto are controlled and maintained in inverse proportional relationship to each other.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for laminating at least two polymeric sheets into a composite having improved properties, said method comprising the steps of: providing a first sheet of polymeric material; exposing a surface of such first sheet of polymeric material to cold plasma to activate the surface thereof, such cold plasma generated by application of at least approximately between 180,000-500,000 volts of electromagnetic energy onto a stream of gaseous material for application of such first sheet of polymeric material; disposing such activated surface of such first sheet into intimate proximity with a second sheet of polymeric material to effect adhesion therebetween to form a laminated composite in the absence of any substantial heating of either of such sheets and without application to either of such sheets of a separate adhesive; and wherein the pressure of such cold plasma and the voltage applied thereto are controlled and maintained in inverse proportional relationship to each other.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The cold plasma method of claim 16 wherein such inverse proportional relationship between the pressure of such cold plasma and the voltage applied thereto is controlled automatically.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for laminating at least two polymeric sheets into a composite having improved properties, said method comprising the steps of: providing a first sheet of polymeric material; exposing a surface of such first sheet of polymeric material to cold plasma to activate the surface thereof, such first sheet being run through such cold plasma at a rate of 500 feet per second; and disposing such activated surface of such first sheet into intimate proximately with a second sheet of polymeric material to effect adhesion therebetween to form a laminated composite in the absence of any substantial heating of either of such sheets and without application to either of such sheets of a separate adhesive.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for laminating at least two polymeric sheets into a composite having improved properties, said method comprising the steps of: providing a first sheet of polymeric material; exposing a surface of such first sheet of polymeric material to cold plasma to activate the surface thereof, such first sheet being run through such cold plasma at a rate of 500 feet per second; and disposing such activated surface of such first sheet into intimate proximately with a second sheet of polymeric material to effect adhesion therebetween to form a laminated composite in the absence of any substantial heating of either of such sheets and without application to either of such sheets of a separate adhesive.
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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) | 1993-02-12 | 1993-08-14 | 1994-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-02-12 | 1997-08-14 | 1998-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-02-12 | 2001-08-14 | 2002-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |