US5855818A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrically conductive fiber filled elastomeric foam
Assignee: World Properties Inc
•
Filing: 1995-09-01
•
Granted: 1999-01-05
•
Expires: 2015-09-01
Abstract
Abstract An electrically conductive elastomeric foam is presented. Preferably, the elastomeric foam comprises polyurethane foam and in accordance with an important feature of this invention, the elastomeric foam is rendered electrically conductive by incorporating therein electrically conductive fibers. As used herein, a "fiber" has a diameter greater than or equal to one micron, and an aspect ratio (length/diameter) greater than or equal to fifteen. In accordance with the method of the present invention, the elastomeric foam is prepared from a polyurethane stock comprised of a polyhydroxyl compound, an organic polyisocyanate compound, a catalyst, a foam stabilizer and an amount of electrically conductive fiber which is effective to render the elastomeric foam electrically conductive. The conductive foam of this invention finds particular utility in the manufacture of conductive soling in footwear, conductive rollers and the like for use in electrophotographic equipment as well as in electrostatic dissipative and EMI/RFI shielding applications.
Inventors
- 👤 Poh Poh Gan
- 👤 Michael Bessette
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 19:51
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/65; A; A43; A43B; A43B7/00; A43B7/36; C; C08; C08J; C08J9/00; C08J9/0085; C08K; C08K7/00; C08K7/02; H; H01; H01B; H01B1/00; H01B1/20; H01B1/22; H01B1/24; C08K2201/00; C08K2201/016; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249953; Y10T428/249955; Y10T428/249958; Y10T428/249987; Y10T428/24999
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
53 words
An electrically conductive elastomeric foam comprising: an elastomeric foam; electrically conductive PAN fibers carbonized at least 99% dispersed within said foam, said fibers being present in an amount effective to render said elastomeric foam electrically conductive, such that the volume resistivity of said electrically conductive foam is less th an 1×10 6 ohm-cm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
53 words
An electrically conductive elastomeric foam comprising: an elastomeric foam; electrically conductive PAN fibers carbonized at least 99% dispersed within said foam, said fibers being present in an amount effective to render said elastomeric foam electrically conductive, such that the volume resistivity of said electrically conductive foam is less th an 1×10 6 ohm-cm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The foam of claim 1 wherein: said effective amount of conductive fibers is in the range of about 5 to about 30 weight percent with respect to the total composition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The foam of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric foam is selected from the group consisting of: polyvinyl chloride polymers, styrene butadiene rubber polymers, ethylene propylene rubber, ethylene propylene diene monomer polymers, and acrylic polymers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The foam of claim 1 wherein: said elastomeric foam comprises polyurethane foam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The foam of claim 4, wherein: said foam is synthesized from a foamable polyurethane mixture comprising at least one polyhydroxyl compound, at least one organic polyisocyanate compound, a catalyst, and a foam stabilizing surfactant.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
The foam of claim 5, wherein said polyhydroxyl compound is selected from the group consisting of: hydroxyl terminated polyether polyols, hydroxyl terminated polyester polyols, hydroxyl terminated polyols which are copolymers of polyethers and polyesters, polymer polyols produced by polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers or mixtures thereof in polyol, hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene, and low molecular weight alcohols.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The foam of claim 5, wherein said organic polyisocyanate compound is selected from the group consisting of: toluene diisocyanate, crude toluene diisocyanate, 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, crude 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, aliphatic diisocyanates, mixtures of the preceding diisocyanates, and polymers prepared by the partial reaction of these diisocyanates with polyols.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The foam of claim 5, wherein said catalyst is selected from the group consisting of: dibutyltin dilaurate, stannous octoate, tin and zinc waxes, metal acetyl acetonates, and tertiary amines.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The foam of claim 5, wherein said foam stabilizing surfactant comprises an organosilicone copolymer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
107 words
An electrically conductive elastomeric foam comprising: an elastomeric foam: electrically conductive fibers dispersed within said foam, wherein said electrically conductive fibers are selected from the group consisting of electrically conductive metals, and glass, ceramic and polymeric fibers rendered electrically conductive by coating with electrically conductive materials, said fibers being present in an amount effective to render said elastomeric foam electrically conductive such that the volume resistivity of said electrically conductive foam is less than 1×10 6 ohm-cm: and at least one coupling agent for improving the dispersion of said fibers in said foam, said coupling agent being selected from the group consisting of silanes, titanates, and zirconates.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
107 words
An electrically conductive elastomeric foam comprising: an elastomeric foam: electrically conductive fibers dispersed within said foam, wherein said electrically conductive fibers are selected from the group consisting of electrically conductive metals, and glass, ceramic and polymeric fibers rendered electrically conductive by coating with electrically conductive materials, said fibers being present in an amount effective to render said elastomeric foam electrically conductive such that the volume resistivity of said electrically conductive foam is less than 1×10 6 ohm-cm: and at least one coupling agent for improving the dispersion of said fibers in said foam, said coupling agent being selected from the group consisting of silanes, titanates, and zirconates.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The foam of claim 10, wherein said electrically conductive material is selected from the group consisting of: niobium, nickel, stainless steel, chrome, nickel, copper and silver.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
77 words
An electrically conductive elastomeric foam comprising: an elastomeric polyurethane foam; electrically conductive PAN carbon fibers dispersed within said foam, wherein said fibers are carbonized at least 99%, and further wherein said fibers are present in an amount effective to render said elastomeric foam electrically conductive such that the volume resistivity of said electrically conductive foam is less than 1×10 6 ohm-cm; and at least one dispersing agent for improving the dispersion of said fibers in said foam.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
77 words
An electrically conductive elastomeric foam comprising: an elastomeric polyurethane foam; electrically conductive PAN carbon fibers dispersed within said foam, wherein said fibers are carbonized at least 99%, and further wherein said fibers are present in an amount effective to render said elastomeric foam electrically conductive such that the volume resistivity of said electrically conductive foam is less than 1×10 6 ohm-cm; and at least one dispersing agent for improving the dispersion of said fibers in said foam.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The foam of claim 10, wherein said foam is a polyurethane foam.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The foam of claim 10, further comprising at least one dispersing agent for improving the dispersion of said fibers in said foam.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The foam of claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive fibers have a diameter of greater than or equal to one micron and an aspect ratio greater than or equal to 15.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The foam of claim 1, further including: an ionic additive in an amount in the range from about 0.5 to 10.0 parts of the total formulation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The foam of claim 16 wherein: said ionic additive is present in an amount of from about 0.5 to 10.0 parts of the total formulation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The foam of claim 16, wherein said ionic additive is a quaternary ammonium salt.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The foam of claim 1, further comprising: an electrically conductive particulate filler.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The foam of claim 1 wherein: said electrically conductive elastomeric foam has a volume resistivity of between about 1×10 2 to 1×10 6 ohm.cm.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
The foam of claim 14 wherein: said dispersing agent is selected from the group consisting of fatty acids, unsaturated polyamine amides, higher molecular weight acidic esters, and alkanolanunonium salts of polyfunctional polymers.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
An electrically conductive article, comprising the electrically conductive foam of claim 10.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The foam of claim 10 wherein: said coupling agent is present in an amount of from about 0.1 to 2 wt. % based on the weight of said fibers.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The article of claim 22, wherein the volume resistivity of said electrically conductive foam is less than 1×10 6 ohm-cm.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
The foam of claim 1 wherein: said dispersing agent is selected from the group consisting of fatty acids, unsaturated polyamine amides and higher molecular weight acidic esters and alkanolammonium salts of polyfunctional polymers.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
The foam of claim 1 wherein: said dispersing agent is present in an amount of from about 0.1 to 2 wt. % based on the weight of said fibers.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electrically conductive article, comprising: an elastomeric polyurethane foam containing electrically conductive PAN fibers carbonized at least 99% in an amount effective to render said elastomeric foam electrically conductive.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electrically conductive article, comprising: an elastomeric polyurethane foam containing electrically conductive PAN fibers carbonized at least 99% in an amount effective to render said elastomeric foam electrically conductive.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The article of claim 27, wherein the volume resistivity of said electrically conductive foam is less than 1×10 6 ohm-cm.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
51 words
An electrically conductive elastomeric foam comprising: a polyurethane foam; electrically conductive PAN fibers carbonized at least 99% dispersed within said foam, said fibers being in an amount effective to render said elastomeric foam electrically conductive; and at least one dispersing agent for improving the dispersion of asid fibers in said foam.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
51 words
An electrically conductive elastomeric foam comprising: a polyurethane foam; electrically conductive PAN fibers carbonized at least 99% dispersed within said foam, said fibers being in an amount effective to render said elastomeric foam electrically conductive; and at least one dispersing agent for improving the dispersion of asid fibers in said foam.
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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) | 2002-01-04 | 2002-07-06 | 2003-01-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-01-04 | 2006-07-06 | 2007-01-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-01-04 | 2010-07-06 | 2011-01-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |