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US5039549A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Treatment of ultrahigh molecular weight polyolefin to improve adhesion to a resin

Assignee: Honeywell International Inc
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Filing: 1990-11-14
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Granted: 1991-08-13
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Expires: 2010-11-14
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Abstract

Abstract Method and apparatus for treating ultrahigh molecular weight, high strength polyolefin to improve its adhesive bonding to a resin such as epoxy, vinyl ester, polyester, polyurethane, polyolefin or thermoplastic rubber are provided. The method includes the steps of soaking the polyolefin in a first solution comprising (i) an aromatic ketone photosensitizer, and (ii) a first solvent selected from the group consisting of a benzene derivative, an alkyl halide, and a cyclic alkane; removing any excess first solvent; coating the surface of the polyolefin with a second solution comprising (i) about 15 to 70 weight percent of a monomer independently selected from the aforementioned group, (ii) about 0.25 to 5 weight percent of an aromatic ketone photosensitizer, and (iii) about 25 to 84.75 weight percent of a solvent selected from the group consisting of a low boiling point alcohol and a low boiling point ketone; exposing the coated polyolefin to a sufficient amount of irradiation to surface graft the monomer of the second solution to the polyolefin; washing the treated polyolefin; and drying for suitable packaging. The apparatus features an irradiation treatment chamber through which the polyolefin is passed in a cooled tube for treatment.

Inventors

  • 👤 Huy X. Nguyen
  • 👤 Anoshiravan Poursartip
  • 👤 Golnar Riahi
  • 👤 Roger C. Bennett
  • 👤 Geoffrey M. Wood

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 18:33
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08J; C08J7/00; C08J7/12; C08J7/16; C08J7/18; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31855; Y10T428/31909; Y10T428/31913; Y10T428/3192

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim 188 words
A continuous method of treating an ultrahigh molecular weight, high strength polyolefin to improve adhesive bonding of the polyolefin to a resin, comprising: a. soaking said polyolefin in a first solution which comprises a first solvent and an aromatic ketone photosensitizer until the photosensitizer diffuses into the surface of the polyolefin, said first solvent being selected from the group consisting of a benzene derivative, an alkyl halide, and a cyclic alkane; b. removing any excess first solvent; c. coating the surface of said polyolefin with a second solution comprising (i) about 15 to 70 weight percent of a monomer selected from the group consisting of an unsaturated organic acid, an unsaturated organosulfonic acid, and a vinyl monomer, (ii) about 0.25 to 5.0 weight percent of an aromatic ketone photosensitizer and (iii) about 25 to 84.75 weight percent of a solvent selected from the group consisting of a low boiling point alcohol and a low boiling point ketone; d. exposing the coated polyolefin to a sufficient amount of irradiation to surface graft the coating monomer onto said polyolefin; e. washing the treated polyolefin; and f. drying the treated polyolefin.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 188 words
A continuous method of treating an ultrahigh molecular weight, high strength polyolefin to improve adhesive bonding of the polyolefin to a resin, comprising: a. soaking said polyolefin in a first solution which comprises a first solvent and an aromatic ketone photosensitizer until the photosensitizer diffuses into the surface of the polyolefin, said first solvent being selected from the group consisting of a benzene derivative, an alkyl halide, and a cyclic alkane; b. removing any excess first solvent; c. coating the surface of said polyolefin with a second solution comprising (i) about 15 to 70 weight percent of a monomer selected from the group consisting of an unsaturated organic acid, an unsaturated organosulfonic acid, and a vinyl monomer, (ii) about 0.25 to 5.0 weight percent of an aromatic ketone photosensitizer and (iii) about 25 to 84.75 weight percent of a solvent selected from the group consisting of a low boiling point alcohol and a low boiling point ketone; d. exposing the coated polyolefin to a sufficient amount of irradiation to surface graft the coating monomer onto said polyolefin; e. washing the treated polyolefin; and f. drying the treated polyolefin.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 10 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the polyolefin is polyethylene.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the polyethylene is a shaped article
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the shaped article is selected from the group consisting of fiber, film and tape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the resin is selected from the group consisting of epoxy, vinyl ester, polyester, polyurethane, polyolefin and thermoplastic rubber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the resin is the matrix portion of a composite.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the polyethylene is a shaped article selected from the group consisting of fiber, film and tape.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the coated polyolefin is exposed to ultraviolet irradiation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the total ultraviolet energy ranges up to about 75,000 joules.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 11 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said first solvent is xylene.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said first solvent is carbon tetrachloride.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 11 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said first solvent is decalin.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the solvent in said second solution is acetone.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the first solution further comprises a monomer selected from the group consisting of an unsaturated organic acid, an unsaturated organosulfonic acid, and a vinyl monomer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 20 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the monomer in each of said first and said second solutions is acrylic acid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the monomer in each of said first and said second solutions is 2 acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 35 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said removing step comprises washing the soaked polyolefin in a second solvent selected from the group consisting of a low boiling point alcohol and a low boiling point ketone.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 38 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the second solution comprises about 21.26 to 44.76 weight percent of the monomer, about 0.58 to 2 weight percent of the photosensitizer, and about 53.9 to 76.8 weight percent of the solvent.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 32 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said polyolefin is soaked in the first solution at a temperature of about 20° to 50° C. for from about 5 seconds up to 24 hours.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said polyolefin is soaked in the first solution at a temperature of about 40° to 50° C. for from about 2.5 to 30 minutes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 93 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said polyolefin is polyethylene fiber; said first solution comprises acrylic acid, xylene and benzophenone; said fiber is soaked in said first solution for from about 2.5 to 25 minutes at a temperature of about 40° to 50° C.; said second solution comprises about 21.26 to 44.76 weight percent acrylic acid, about 0.58 to 2 weight percent of benzophenone, and about 53.9 to 76.8 weight percent of acetone; and said coated fiber is exposed to ultraviolet radiation with total ultraviolet energy ranging from about 5000 to 7500 joules.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 12 words
A composite containing a fiber produced by the method of claim 21.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2999056A Cited
US4421780A Cited
US4410586A Cited
US4600649A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-08-12 1995-02-11 1995-08-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-08-12 1999-02-11 1999-08-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-08-12 2003-02-11 2003-08-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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