US4973442A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Forming biaxially oriented ordered polymer films
Assignee: Vencore Services and Solutions Inc
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Filing: 1987-09-21
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Granted: 1990-11-27
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Expires: 2007-09-21
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates in general to the formation of thick films having a biaxial molecular orientation. Such films are prepared in accordance with the present invention from rod-like extended chain aromatic-heterocyclic ordered polymers. Such films have high tensile strength, modulus, and environmental resistance characteristics. A preferred ordered polymer for use in the present invention is poly (para-phenylenebenzo bisthiazole), (PBT), a compound having the structure: <IMAGE> The present invention is also directed to methods and apparatus suitable for producing biaxially oriented films, coatings, and like materials from ordered polymers, preferably PBT.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew C. Harvey
- 👤 Richard W. Lusignea
- 👤 Dirk M. Baars
- 👤 Donald Bretches
- 👤 Robert B. Davis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 14:24
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C55/00; B29C55/005; B29C48/00; B29C48/03; B29C48/07; B29C48/08; B29C48/09; B29C48/10; B29C48/25; B29C48/30; B29C48/305; B29C48/32; B29C48/33; B29C48/35; B29C48/88; B29C48/919; B29C55/02; B29C55/10; B29C55/12; B29C67/00; B29C67/24; B29C48/06; B29K; B29K2079/00; B29K2081/00; B29K2105/00; B29K2105/0079; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2913; Y10T428/2933; Y10T428/2964; Y10T428/2967; Y10T428/31
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of preparing biaxially ordered polymer films comprising the sequential steps of: (a) treating a dope containing an ordered polymer with simultaneous biaxial shearing forces, thereby producing a film having at least two microscale structural orientations; (b) treating the film obtained in step (a) with cross-directional strains comprising transverse and longitudinal extensions, thereby imparting additional microscale structural orientation to the film; and (c) solidifying the film obtained to retain the microscale structural orientation imparted thereto.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of preparing biaxially ordered polymer films comprising the sequential steps of: (a) treating a dope containing an ordered polymer with simultaneous biaxial shearing forces, thereby producing a film having at least two microscale structural orientations; (b) treating the film obtained in step (a) with cross-directional strains comprising transverse and longitudinal extensions, thereby imparting additional microscale structural orientation to the film; and (c) solidifying the film obtained to retain the microscale structural orientation imparted thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 8, wherein said shear forces of step (a) are imparted by counter-rotating die members and longitudinal flow between said die members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said physical microscale solidification means comprises treatment of the stressed dope in an aqueous coagulation bath.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the thermal microscale solidification means comprises drying the tubular film under a positive pressure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising tube blowing of the stressed ordered polymer dope, said tube blowing imparting an additional microstructure strain to said dope.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said chemical microscale solidification means comprises treating the dope with a chemical additive.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said chemical additive is polyphenylene sulfide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said chemical additive is caprolactam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said chemical additive is polyamic acid.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
99 words
The method of preparing a biaxially ordered polymer film comprising the sequential steps of: (a) pretreating a solution of ordered polymer dope by heating to a temperature within its orientation range and degassing said heated polymer dope; (b) extruding a film from said degassed polymer such that simultaneous biaxial shearing forces act upon the polymer, imparting a biaxial microscale structural orientation to the film; (c) subjecting the film obtained in step (b) to cross-sectional strains comprising transverse and longitudinal extensions thereby further orientating said film; and (d) solidifying the film obtained to retain the microscale structural orientation imparted thereto.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
99 words
The method of preparing a biaxially ordered polymer film comprising the sequential steps of: (a) pretreating a solution of ordered polymer dope by heating to a temperature within its orientation range and degassing said heated polymer dope; (b) extruding a film from said degassed polymer such that simultaneous biaxial shearing forces act upon the polymer, imparting a biaxial microscale structural orientation to the film; (c) subjecting the film obtained in step (b) to cross-sectional strains comprising transverse and longitudinal extensions thereby further orientating said film; and (d) solidifying the film obtained to retain the microscale structural orientation imparted thereto.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) comprises the sequential steps of: (i) coagulating said oriented film; (ii) washing said film; and (iii) drying and densifying said film.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
66 words
The method of preparing a biaxially oriented ordered polymer film comprising the sequential steps of: (a) extruding an ordered polymer dope such that biaxial shearing forces simultaneously act upon the dope, creating a film and imparting a first biaxial orientation thereto; and (b) subsequently stretching said film, thereby imparting a second diaxial orientation thereto; (c) solidifying the film obtained to retain the biaxial orientation imparted thereto.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
66 words
The method of preparing a biaxially oriented ordered polymer film comprising the sequential steps of: (a) extruding an ordered polymer dope such that biaxial shearing forces simultaneously act upon the dope, creating a film and imparting a first biaxial orientation thereto; and (b) subsequently stretching said film, thereby imparting a second diaxial orientation thereto; (c) solidifying the film obtained to retain the biaxial orientation imparted thereto.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of preparing an ordered polymer film comprising: conditioning a dope of an ordered polymeric material in a solvent to remove entrapped gas therefrom; extruding the conditioned material through a counter rotating die into a film having at least two microscale structural orientations; subjecting the film to cross-directional strains comprising transverse and longitudinal extensions thereby further orienting said film; coagulating the polymeric material; removing the solvent; and heat treating the resulting film.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of preparing an ordered polymer film comprising: conditioning a dope of an ordered polymeric material in a solvent to remove entrapped gas therefrom; extruding the conditioned material through a counter rotating die into a film having at least two microscale structural orientations; subjecting the film to cross-directional strains comprising transverse and longitudinal extensions thereby further orienting said film; coagulating the polymeric material; removing the solvent; and heat treating the resulting film.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the polymeric material in the film is coagulated by quenching in an aqueous coagulation bath.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the solvent is removed by washing the film with water, and further comprising drying the washed film.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 13 or 14 wherein the shear stress applied to the film during manufacture is sufficient to produce film having an ultimate tensile stress in any direction of at least 40,000 psi.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the shear stress applied to the film during manufacture is sufficient to produce film having an ultimate tensile stress of at least 100,000 psi in at least one direction.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 13 or 14 wherein the shear stress applied to the film during manufacture is sufficient to produce film having a tensile modulus in any direction of at least 8×10 5 psi.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the shear stress applied to the film during manufacture is sufficient to produce film having a tensile modulus of at least 5×10 6 psi in at least one direction.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the solvent is polyphosphoric acid, methanesulfonic acid or chlorosulfonic acid.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the ordered polymer a para-ordered, aromatic heterocyclic polymer, an ordered, linear, crystalline polymer containing aliphatic, cycloaliphatic and araliphatic moieties, a para-ordered aromatic heterocyclic polymer having diphenoxybenzene swivel sections in the polymer chain, a para-ordered aromatic heterocyclic polymer containing phenyl groups along the polymer chain backbone, or p-phenylenebenzo bisthiazole.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the ordered polymer is p-phenylenebenzo bisthiazole and the solvent is poly phosphoric acid.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the transverse extension is provided by blowing the film and the longitudinal extension is provided by drawing the film.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 23, wherein the blow ratio is from about 1:1 to about 3:1.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 23, wherein the draw ratio is from about 8:1 to about 20:1.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the counter-rotating members are assembled to provide an assembly having a ratio of shear zone axial length to annular gap of greater than about 50:1.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 12, wherein stretching said film comprises blowing and drawing the film.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 27, wherein the blowing and drawing is carried out simultaneously.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 27, wherein the blow ratio is from about 1:1 to about 3:1.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 27, wherein the draw ratio is from about 8:1 to about 20:1.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the counter-rotating dies have a ratio of shear zone axial length to annular gap of greater than about 50:1.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-11-26 | 1994-05-28 | 1994-11-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-11-26 | 1998-05-28 | 1998-11-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-11-26 | 2002-05-28 | 2002-11-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |