Patent US5759329A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5759329A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluoropolymer composite tube and method of preparation
Assignee: MARTINREA INDUSTRIES Inc
•
Filing: 1994-06-24
•
Granted: 1998-06-02
•
Expires: 2014-06-24
Abstract
Abstract Described herein is a method of preparing a fluoropolymer composite tube comprising the steps of forming a fluoropolymer substrate, and thereafter layering and chemically bonding the fluoropolymer with a polymer layer, preferably a thermosetting or thermoplastic elastomer. The fluoropolymer substrate can be activated by subjecting the substrate to a charged gaseous atmosphere formed by electrically ionizing a gas which contacts the substrate. Thereafter, a layer of a thermosetting or thermplastic elastomer is applied to the activated fluoropolymer substrate resulting in a stronger chemical bond. The ionizing step can be described as a mixed gas plasma discharge or an electrically formed plasma. The thermosetting elastomer can, but does not have to contain a curing agent. In particular, this invention describes a fuel pipe comprised of an inner fluorocarbon layer having electrostatic discharge resistance and hydrocarbon evaporative emission resistance, and on top of and integral with the fluorocarbon layer, an outer layer of a thermosetting or thermoplastic elastomer chemically bonded to the fluorocarbon layer. Fluoropolymer layers have excellent chemical resistance.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward Krause
- 👤 Kenneth J. Kuenzel
- 👤 Frederick Woodward
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 18:45
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L11/00; F16L11/04; F16L11/12; F16L11/127; B; B29; B29C; B29C48/00; B29C48/001; B29C48/0013; B29C48/0015; B29C48/0016; B29C48/022; B29C48/03; B29C48/09; B29C48/16; B29C48/18; B29C48/21; B29C48/25; B29C48/30; B29C48/32; B29C48/34; B29C48/36; B29C48/50; B29C48/695; B29C48/70; B29C48/705; B29C59/00; B29C59/08; B29C59/085; B29C59/10; B29C59/103; B29C59/14; B29C59/142; F16L9/00; F16L9/12; F16L9/121; F16L9/125; B29C2791/00; B29C2791/001; B29C37/00; B29C37/0078; B29C48/07; B29C48/08; B29K; B29K2021/00; B29K2021/006; B29K2027/00; B29K2027/12; B29K2027/18; B29K2077/00; B29K2301/00; B29K2301/10; B29L; B29L2023/00; B29L2023/22; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/13; Y10T428/1352; Y10T428/1369; Y10T428/1386; Y10T428/139; Y10T428/1393; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/3154; Y10T428/31544
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of preparing a tube comprising the steps of: continuously extruding a first tubular layer of a thermoplastic fluoropolymer from a first extrusion station, wherein said layer is a substrate having an outer surface and an inner surface; providing a plasma treatment station, said station being operative to create a plasma from ambient air at atmospheric pressure; using said station to create the plasma from ambient air at atmospheric pressure: continuously advancing said fluoropolymer substrate along a first portion of an extrusion line and through said plasma treatment station so that the entirety of the outer surface of said fluoropolymer substrate is contacted by said plasma so that said outer surface is chemically activated; continuously advancing said chemically activated substrate along a second portion of said extrusion line to a second extrusion station; and continuously extruding a second tubular layer of a nonfluorine-containing polymer selected from the group consisting of thermosetting polymers and thermoplastic elastomers onto said chemically activated substrate so as to form chemical bonds between the layers without an intervening adhesive layer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of preparing a tube comprising the steps of: continuously extruding a first tubular layer of a thermoplastic fluoropolymer from a first extrusion station, wherein said layer is a substrate having an outer surface and an inner surface; providing a plasma treatment station, said station being operative to create a plasma from ambient air at atmospheric pressure; using said station to create the plasma from ambient air at atmospheric pressure: continuously advancing said fluoropolymer substrate along a first portion of an extrusion line and through said plasma treatment station so that the entirety of the outer surface of said fluoropolymer substrate is contacted by said plasma so that said outer surface is chemically activated; continuously advancing said chemically activated substrate along a second portion of said extrusion line to a second extrusion station; and continuously extruding a second tubular layer of a nonfluorine-containing polymer selected from the group consisting of thermosetting polymers and thermoplastic elastomers onto said chemically activated substrate so as to form chemical bonds between the layers without an intervening adhesive layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said thermosetting polymer is a thermosetting elastomer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 2 and further comprising the step of adding a curing agent to said thermosetting elastomer prior to said step of extruding onto said fluoropolymer substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said fluoropolymer substrate is an integral multi-layer tube wherein an inner layer comprises a conductive fluoropolymer and an outer layer is a non-conductive fluoropolymer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 and further comprising the step of applying heat to said layered product after said step of extruding said second tubular layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 and further comprising the step of applying pressure to said layered product after said step of extruding said second tubular layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 and further comprising the step of moving said fluoropolymer substrate through said plasma at a rate of 1 to 50 linear feet/minute.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said plasma treatment is operating at 250 to 600 joules per second.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of preparing a multi-layered tube comprising the steps of: forming an inner tubular layer of a fluoropolymer substrate having an outer surface and an inner surface; chemically activating said outer surface of said fluoropolymer substrate by subjecting said surface to a charged, substantially non-inert gaseous atmosphere by electrically ionizing a gas which contacts said surface; and chemically bonding without an intervening adhesive layer an outer tubular layer of a polymer selected from the group consisting of amide urethane elastomers, chlorinated polyethylene, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, copolyether ester, epichlorohydrin, ethylene acrylic, fluoroelastomer, perfluoroelastomer, fluorosilicone, hydrogenated nitrile butyl, nitrile, polyacrylate, polyester urethane, polyether urethane, polysulfide, polyurethane, silicone, styrene butadiene, styrenic elastomer, ethylene/acrylic elastomer, and thermoplastic elastomers by applying said polymer to the chemically activated fluoropolymer substrate so as to form chemical bonds between the layers.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of preparing a multi-layered tube comprising the steps of: forming an inner tubular layer of a fluoropolymer substrate having an outer surface and an inner surface; chemically activating said outer surface of said fluoropolymer substrate by subjecting said surface to a charged, substantially non-inert gaseous atmosphere by electrically ionizing a gas which contacts said surface; and chemically bonding without an intervening adhesive layer an outer tubular layer of a polymer selected from the group consisting of amide urethane elastomers, chlorinated polyethylene, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, copolyether ester, epichlorohydrin, ethylene acrylic, fluoroelastomer, perfluoroelastomer, fluorosilicone, hydrogenated nitrile butyl, nitrile, polyacrylate, polyester urethane, polyether urethane, polysulfide, polyurethane, silicone, styrene butadiene, styrenic elastomer, ethylene/acrylic elastomer, and thermoplastic elastomers by applying said polymer to the chemically activated fluoropolymer substrate so as to form chemical bonds between the layers.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
206 words
A method of preparing a tube comprising the steps of: continuously extruding a first tubular layer of a thermoplastic fluoropolymer from a first extrusion station, wherein said layer is a substrate having an outer surface and an inner surface; providing a plasma treatment station, said station being operative to create a plasma from ambient air at atmospheric pressure; using said station to create the plasma from ambient air at atmospheric pressure; continuously advancing said fluoropolymer substrate along a first portion of an extrusion line and through said plasma treatment station so that the entirety of the outer surface of said fluoropolymer substrate is contacted by said plasma so that said outer surface is chemically activated; continuously advancing said chemically activated substrate along a second portion of said extrusion line to a second extrusion station; and continuously extruding a second tubular layer of a non-fluorine-containing polymer selected from the group consisting of amide urethane elastomers, chlorinated polyethylene, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, copolyether ester, epichlorohydrin, ethylene acrylic, fluoroelastomer, perfluoroelastomer, fluorosilicone, hydrogenated nitrile butyl, nitrile, polyacrylate, polyester urethane, polyether urethane, polysulfide, polyurethane, silicone, styrene butadiene, styrenic elastomer, ethylene/acrylic elastomer, and thermoplastic elastomers onto said chemically activated substrate so as to form chemical bonds between the layers without an intervening adhesive layer.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
206 words
A method of preparing a tube comprising the steps of: continuously extruding a first tubular layer of a thermoplastic fluoropolymer from a first extrusion station, wherein said layer is a substrate having an outer surface and an inner surface; providing a plasma treatment station, said station being operative to create a plasma from ambient air at atmospheric pressure; using said station to create the plasma from ambient air at atmospheric pressure; continuously advancing said fluoropolymer substrate along a first portion of an extrusion line and through said plasma treatment station so that the entirety of the outer surface of said fluoropolymer substrate is contacted by said plasma so that said outer surface is chemically activated; continuously advancing said chemically activated substrate along a second portion of said extrusion line to a second extrusion station; and continuously extruding a second tubular layer of a non-fluorine-containing polymer selected from the group consisting of amide urethane elastomers, chlorinated polyethylene, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, copolyether ester, epichlorohydrin, ethylene acrylic, fluoroelastomer, perfluoroelastomer, fluorosilicone, hydrogenated nitrile butyl, nitrile, polyacrylate, polyester urethane, polyether urethane, polysulfide, polyurethane, silicone, styrene butadiene, styrenic elastomer, ethylene/acrylic elastomer, and thermoplastic elastomers onto said chemically activated substrate so as to form chemical bonds between the layers without an intervening adhesive layer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
CA686119A
Cited
US3017339A
Cited
DE1290717B
Cited
US3133854A
Cited
US3352714A
Cited
US3473087A
Cited
US3455774A
Cited
US3457139A
Cited
US3507763A
Cited
US3676181A
Cited
US3907955A
Cited
US4035534A
Cited
JPS51119777A
Cited
US4272585A
Cited
JPS5358588A
Cited
US4330017A
Cited
US4188426A
Cited
US4383131A
Cited
US4343861A
Cited
US4293663A
Cited
US4353763A
Cited
US4358559A
Cited
JPS58114979A
Cited
JPS58201613A
Cited
US5051978A
Cited
US4995028A
Cited
US4770927A
Cited
US4564662A
Cited
US4634615A
Cited
US4654235A
Cited
US4743327A
Cited
DE3524631A1
Cited
EP0185590A2
Cited
US4636272A
Cited
US4603712A
Cited
US4943473A
Cited
US4758455A
Cited
US4748204A
Cited
US4718568A
Cited
US4800109A
Cited
US4749610A
Cited
JPS639533A
Cited
US4731156A
Cited
US4933060A
Cited
GB2204932A
Cited
US4826731A
Cited
US4887647A
Cited
US4898638A
Cited
JPH01154755A
Cited
JPH01174442A
Cited
JPH02107371A
Cited
US5008340A
Cited
US5059480A
Cited
US5124878A
Cited
US5141800A
Cited
EP0385731A1
Cited
US5056512A
Cited
US5081326A
Cited
DE3930350A1
Cited
JPH03114829A
Cited
US5089200A
Cited
US5077115A
Cited
EP0479592A2
Cited
US5108780A
Cited
US5170011A
Cited
US5357005A
Cited
US5500257A
Cited
US5554425A
Cited
US5284184A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-06-01 | 2001-12-01 | 2002-06-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-01 | 2005-12-01 | 2006-06-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-01 | 2009-12-01 | 2010-06-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |