US5456972A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for glow discharge plasma treatment of polymer materials at atmospheric pressure
Assignee: University of Tennessee Research Foundation
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Filing: 1993-05-28
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Granted: 1995-10-10
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Expires: 2013-05-28
Abstract
Abstract Polymer materials such as film and fabrics, woven, non-woven and meltblown, may be non-destructively surface treated to improve water wettability by exposure to a glow discharge plasma sustained at substantially atmospheric pressure in a modified gas atmosphere comprising helium or argon.
Inventors
- 👤 John R. Roth
- 👤 Peter P. Tsai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 07:56
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J37/00; H01J37/32; H01J37/32009; H01J37/32082; H01J37/32174; B; B29; B29C; B29C59/00; B29C59/14; B64; B64C; B64C23/00; B64C23/005; D; D04; D04H; D04H1/00; D04H1/40; D04H1/54; D04H1/56; H01J37/32431; H01J37/32733; H01J37/32752; H01J37/32761; H01J37/3277; H05; H05B; H05B7/00; H05B7/16; A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/44; B29C2059/145; B29K; B29K2023/00; B29K2023/10; B29K2023/12; H01J2237/00; H01J2237/32; H01J2237/33; H01J2237/336; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/903; Y10T; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/30; Y10T442/3976; Y10T442/60; Y10T442/68
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for improving the wettability of a meltblown polymer web or film, comprising the steps of generating a sustained atmospheric pressure of about one atmosphere, glow discharge plasma between a pair of spaced plate electrodes, wherein said electrodes are energized over a range of about 1 to at least 5 KV rms at a radio frequency of about 1 to 100 KHz, and drawing said web or film in the space between said electrodes and within said glow discharge plasma for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for improving the wettability of a meltblown polymer web or film, comprising the steps of generating a sustained atmospheric pressure of about one atmosphere, glow discharge plasma between a pair of spaced plate electrodes, wherein said electrodes are energized over a range of about 1 to at least 5 KV rms at a radio frequency of about 1 to 100 KHz, and drawing said web or film in the space between said electrodes and within said glow discharge plasma for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as described by claim 1 wherein a volume defined by the space between said electrodes is charged with a noble gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method as described by claim 2 wherein said gas is helium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as described by claim 2 wherein said gas is a mixture of helium and air.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method as described by claim 2 wherein said gas is argon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as described by claim 2 wherein said gas is a mixture of argon and air.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as described by claim 2 wherein said gas is a mixture of argon and helium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as described by claim 1 wherein said web is of indefinite length drawn between said electrodes at a substantially continuous rate to provide a predetermined elapsed residence time within said plasma.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said glow plasma discharge includes ultraviolet radiation in the simultaneous presence of active species.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein prior to the step of exposing the web or film between the spaced electrode plates, the web formed from the polymeric material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said electrodes are energized by a radio frequency power amplifier of at least 5 watts.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the space between the electrode plates is charged with a noble gas.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the gas is a mixture of helium and air or argon and air.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
59 words
A meltblown polymer web or film having a surface of enhanced wettability and re-wettability produced by a predetermined period of exposure of said web or film to a sustained, atmospheric pressure of about one atmosphere, glow discharge plasma generated by about 1 to at least 5 KV rms potential at a radio frequency of about 1 to 100 KHz.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
A meltblown polymer web or film having a surface of enhanced wettability and re-wettability produced by a predetermined period of exposure of said web or film to a sustained, atmospheric pressure of about one atmosphere, glow discharge plasma generated by about 1 to at least 5 KV rms potential at a radio frequency of about 1 to 100 KHz.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
A meltblown polymer web as described by claim 14 wherein said plasma is sustained by a noble gas.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
A meltblown polymer web as described by claim 15 wherein said gas is helium.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
A meltblown polymer web as described by claim 15 wherein said gas is a mixture of helium and air.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
A meltblown polymer web as described by claim 15 wherein said gas is argon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
A meltblown polymer web as described by claim 15 wherein said gas is a mixture of argon and air.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
A meltblown polymer web as described by claim 15 wherein said gas is a mixture of argon and helium.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
12 words
A meltblown polymer web as described by claim 14 formed from polypropylene.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
12 words
A meltblown polymer web as described by claim 14 formed from nylon.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
A meltblown polymer web as described by claim 14 formed from polyethylene.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
A meltblown polymer web as described by claim 14 formed from polyolefin.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
A meltblown polymer web as described by claim 14 from poly(ethylene terephthalate).
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The meltblown polymer web as described by claim 14 which is a polyester polymer.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
The meltblown polymer web of claim 14 wherein the web or film is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyester and polyethylene and nylon.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
The meltblown polymer of claim 27 wherein the web is a nonwoven web.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The meltblown polymer web of claim 28 wherein said plasma includes ultraviolet radiation in the simultaneous presence of active species.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5227172A
Cited
US5270137A
Cited
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) | 1998-10-09 | 1999-04-10 | 1999-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-10-09 | 2003-04-10 | 2003-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-10-09 | 2007-04-10 | 2007-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |