US5160464A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Polymer irradiation
Assignee: BTG International Ltd
•
Filing: 1988-03-08
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Granted: 1992-11-03
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Expires: 2008-03-08
Abstract
Abstract A process for the preparation of an oriented homo- or co-polyalkene material of improved strain rate sensitivity, which process comprises subjecting the oriented homo- or co-polyalkene material having a weight average molecular weight ( &upbar& Mw)</=350,000, a number average molecular weight ( &upbar& Mn)>/=5,000, and a 2% secant modulus of at least 10 GPa at a strain rate of 2x10-5 sec-1 to a high energy irradiation of a dosage of at least 1 Mrad and not more than 60 Mrads at an elevated temperature in vacuo or in an inert or sensitizing atmosphere.
Inventors
- 👤 Ian M. Ward
- 👤 Denis W. Woods
- 👤 Walter K. Busfield
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:14
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08J; C08J7/00; C08J7/12; C08J7/16; C08J7/18; C08F; C08F255/00; D; D06; D06M; D06M10/00; D06M10/008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A process for the preparation of an oriented homo-polyethylene or co-polyethylene of improved strain rate sensitivity, which process comprises: (1) Providing the solid homo- or copolyethylene; (2) Orienting the molecules of said homo- or co-polyethylene to produce a highly oriented product having a 2% secant modulus of at least 10 GPa at a strain rate of 2×10 -5 sec -1 ; (3) Subjecting the oriented product to a high energy irradiation of a dosage of at least 1 Mrad and not more than 60 Mrads at a temperature of from 30° C. to 140° C. in vacuo or in an inert or sensitizing atmosphere, wherein said homo- or co-polyethylene has a weight average molecular weight (M w ) less than or equal to 350,000, a number average molecular weight of (M n ) greater than or equal to 5,000.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
A process for the preparation of an oriented homo-polyethylene or co-polyethylene of improved strain rate sensitivity, which process comprises: (1) Providing the solid homo- or copolyethylene; (2) Orienting the molecules of said homo- or co-polyethylene to produce a highly oriented product having a 2% secant modulus of at least 10 GPa at a strain rate of 2×10 -5 sec -1 ; (3) Subjecting the oriented product to a high energy irradiation of a dosage of at least 1 Mrad and not more than 60 Mrads at a temperature of from 30° C. to 140° C. in vacuo or in an inert or sensitizing atmosphere, wherein said homo- or co-polyethylene has a weight average molecular weight (M w ) less than or equal to 350,000, a number average molecular weight of (M n ) greater than or equal to 5,000.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the oriented polyalkene material comprises a homopolyethene material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process according to claim 2 wherein the oriented polyalkene material has a 2%% secant modulus of at least 20 GPa at a strain rate of 2×10 -2 sec -1 .
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the oriented polyalkene material has an M w ≦100,000.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the high energy irradiation is effected in vacuo or under an argon atmosphere.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 5 wherein the high energy irradiation is of a dosage from 15 Mrads to 50 Mrads.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the high energy irradiation is effected in a sensitising atmosphere.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 7 wherein the sensitising atmosphere comprises a gaseous polyunsaturated hydrocarbon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
A process according to claim 7 wherein the sensitising atmosphere comprises acetylene.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the high energy irradiation is of a dosage from 10 Mrads to 40 Mrads.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the irradiation temperature is from 30° C. to 120° C.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the irradiated material is annealed in a sensitising atmosphere.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 12 wherein the annealing temperature is from 40° C. to 120° C.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the sensitizing atmosphere comprises a gaseous polyunsaturated hydrocarbon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the sensitizing atmosphere is selected from acetylene, conjugated or unconjugated olefinic hydrocarbons, acrylate monomers or sulfur monochloride.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the sensitizing atmosphere is an atmosphere which acts as a polyfunctional grafting moiety.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
147 words
A process for the preparation of an oriented homo-polyethylene or co-polyethylene of improved strain rate sensitivity, which process comprises: (1) Melt spinning the homo- or co-polyethylene to provide melt spun fibers of filaments; (2) Orienting the molecules of said homo- or co-polyethylene to produce fiber or filaments having a 2% secant modulus of at least 10 GPa at a strain rate of 2×10 -5 sec -1 ; (3) Subjecting the oriented fiber or filament to a high energy irradiation of a dosage of at least 1 Mrad and not more than 60 Mrads at a temperature of from 30° C. to 140° C. in vacuo or in an inert or sensitizing atmosphere, wherein said homo- or co-polyethylene has a weight average molecular weight (M w ) less than or equal to 350,000, a number average molecular weight of (M n ) greater than or equal to 5,000.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
147 words
A process for the preparation of an oriented homo-polyethylene or co-polyethylene of improved strain rate sensitivity, which process comprises: (1) Melt spinning the homo- or co-polyethylene to provide melt spun fibers of filaments; (2) Orienting the molecules of said homo- or co-polyethylene to produce fiber or filaments having a 2% secant modulus of at least 10 GPa at a strain rate of 2×10 -5 sec -1 ; (3) Subjecting the oriented fiber or filament to a high energy irradiation of a dosage of at least 1 Mrad and not more than 60 Mrads at a temperature of from 30° C. to 140° C. in vacuo or in an inert or sensitizing atmosphere, wherein said homo- or co-polyethylene has a weight average molecular weight (M w ) less than or equal to 350,000, a number average molecular weight of (M n ) greater than or equal to 5,000.
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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) | 1995-11-03 | 1996-05-04 | 1996-11-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-11-03 | 2000-05-04 | 2000-11-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-11-03 | 2004-05-04 | 2004-11-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |