US5100435A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Meltblown nonwoven webs made from epoxy/pcl blends
Assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc
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Filing: 1990-12-04
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Granted: 1992-03-31
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Expires: 2010-12-04
Abstract
Abstract Epoxy-based nonwoven webs are provided. The webs are formed by meltblowing a blend of an epoxy resin and a polycaprolactone (PCL) polymer. Whereas epoxy resins by themselves produce nonwoven webs which are brittle and glassy, epoxy/PCL blends have been found to produce webs which have good flexibility and elongation and are not glassy. If desired, once formed, the epoxy/PCL webs can be cured with, for example, an epoxy crosslinking agent to produce webs having enhanced solvent resistance properties.
Inventors
- 👤 Fidelis C. Onwumere
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 18:57
CPC Classifications
D; D01; D01D; D01D5/00; D01D5/08; D01D5/098; D01D5/0985; D04; D04H; D04H1/00; D04H1/40; D04H1/54; D04H1/56; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S264/00; Y10S264/75; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24942; Y10T428/2495; Y10T428/24967; Y10T428/24975; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249953; Y10T428/249962; Y10T428/249964; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2904; Y10T428/2913; Y10T428/2929; Y10T428/2973; Y10T428/2978
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for meltblowing an epoxy resin which comprises the steps of: (a) forming a molten blend comprising an epoxy resin component which is composed of one or more epoxy resins and a polycaprolactone component which is composed of one or more polycaprolactone polymers; (b) extruding the molten blend through a plurality of orifices to form filaments; (c) attenuating the filaments with flowing heated gas so as to produce fibers whose cross-sectional dimensions are less than the cross-sectional dimensions of the orifices; and (d) collecting the fibers in the form of a nonwoven web.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for meltblowing an epoxy resin which comprises the steps of: (a) forming a molten blend comprising an epoxy resin component which is composed of one or more epoxy resins and a polycaprolactone component which is composed of one or more polycaprolactone polymers; (b) extruding the molten blend through a plurality of orifices to form filaments; (c) attenuating the filaments with flowing heated gas so as to produce fibers whose cross-sectional dimensions are less than the cross-sectional dimensions of the orifices; and (d) collecting the fibers in the form of a nonwoven web.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the epoxy resin component comprises between about 50 percent and about 70 percent by weight of the molten blend.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the polycaprolactone component comprises between about 30 percent and about 50 percent by weight of the molten blend.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the epoxy resin component comprises at least about 50 percent by weight and the polycaprolactone component comprises at least about 30 percent by weight of the molten blend.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the number-average molecular weight of the epoxy resin component is between about 900 and about 8,000.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the functionality of the one or more epoxy resins making up the epoxy resin component is at least two.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the number-average molecular weight of the polycaprolactone component is between about 30,000 and about 60,000.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 comprising the additional step of contacting the nonwoven web with a curing agent which reacts with the epoxy groups of the one or more epoxy resins.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the curing agent is of the crosslinking type.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the curing agent is selected from the group consisting of ammonia, primary diamines, and polyfunctional amines.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the curing agent is ammonia.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the curing agent is tris(aminoethyl)amine.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
A nonwoven web comprising fibers which are composed of at least about 50 percent by weight of one or more epoxy resins and at least about 30 percent by weight of one or more polycaprolactone polymers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
A nonwoven web comprising fibers which are composed of at least about 50 percent by weight of one or more epoxy resins and at least about 30 percent by weight of one or more polycaprolactone polymers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The nonwoven web of claim 13 wherein the one or more epoxy resins comprise between about 50 percent and about 70 percent by weight of the fibers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The nonwoven web of claim 13 wherein the one or more polycaprolactone polymers comprise between about 30 percent and about 50 percent by weight of the fibers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The nonwoven web of claim 13 wherein the number-average molecular weight of the one or more epoxy resins is between about 900 and about 8,000.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The nonwoven web of claim 13 wherein the functionality of the one or more epoxy resins is at least two.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The nonwoven web of claim 13 wherein the number-average molecular weight of the one or more polycaprolactone polymers is between about 30,000 and about 60,000.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The nonwoven web of claim 13 wherein at least some of epoxy groups of the one or more epoxy resins has been reacted with a curing agent.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The nonwoven web of claim 19 wherein the curing agent is of the crosslinking type.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The nonwoven web of claim 20 wherein the curing agent is selected from the group consisting of ammonia, primary diamines, and polyfunctional amines.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
12 words
The nonwoven web of claim 20 wherein the curing agent is ammonia.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
The nonwoven web of claim 20 wherein the curing agent is tris(aminoethyl)amine.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
An article of manufacture which comprises the nonwoven web of claim 13.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
An article of manufacture which comprises the nonwoven web of claim 21.
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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) | 1995-03-31 | 1995-09-30 | 1996-03-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-03-31 | 1999-09-30 | 2000-03-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-03-31 | 2003-09-30 | 2004-03-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |