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Advanced polymer wood composite

Assignee: Andersen Corp
•
Filing: 1998-10-26
•
Granted: 1999-12-21
•
Expires: 2018-10-26
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Abstract

Abstract A composition in the form of pellets comprising a thermoplastic and wood fiber composite material suitable for forming structural members as a replacement for wood in the manufacture of doors and windows. The composite has less than about 10 wt % water based on pellet weight and a Young's modulus of at least about 500,000. Structural members are typically formed from the composite in an extrusion or an injection molding process.

Inventors

  • 👤 Michael J. Deaner
  • 👤 Giuseppe Puppin
  • 👤 Kurt E. Heikkila

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 13:12
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08L; C08L97/00; C08L97/02; B; B27; B27N; B27N3/00; B27N3/007; B27N3/08; B27N3/28; B29; B29B; B29B9/00; B29B9/12; B29B9/14; C08J; C08J5/00; C08J5/04; C08J5/045; C08L27/00; C08L27/02; C08L27/04; C08L27/06; B29K; B29K2311/00; B29K2311/14; C08J2327/00; C08J2327/02; C08J2327/04; C08J2327/06; C08K; C08K7/00; C08K7/02; C08L101/00; C08L2205/00; C08L2205/03; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/25; Y10T428/253; Y10T428/26; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2904; Y10T428/2907; Y10T428/2913; Y10T428/2933; Y10T428/2938; Y10T428/2964; Y10T428/2965; Y10T428/2982; Y10T428/2991; Y10T428/2998; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31855; Y10T428/3188; Y10T428/31884; Y10T428/31891; Y10T428/31895; Y10T428/31906

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim 100 words
A composite pellet, capable of formation into a structural member, which pellet comprises a cylindrical extrudate having a radius of about 1 to 5 mm, a length of about 1 to 10 mm; the pellet composition comprising: (a) about 45 to 70 wt-% of a polymer comprising vinyl chloride; (b) about 30 to 50 wt-% of wood fiber having a minimum thickness of 1 μm and a minimum length of 3 μm and a minimum aspect ratio of about 1.8; and (c) less than about 8 wt-% water; and wherein the wood fiber is dispersed throughout a continuous polymer phase.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 100 words
A composite pellet, capable of formation into a structural member, which pellet comprises a cylindrical extrudate having a radius of about 1 to 5 mm, a length of about 1 to 10 mm; the pellet composition comprising: (a) about 45 to 70 wt-% of a polymer comprising vinyl chloride; (b) about 30 to 50 wt-% of wood fiber having a minimum thickness of 1 μm and a minimum length of 3 μm and a minimum aspect ratio of about 1.8; and (c) less than about 8 wt-% water; and wherein the wood fiber is dispersed throughout a continuous polymer phase.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 143 words
A composite thermoplastic pellet, capable of formation into a structural profile or member, the pellet comprising a thermoplastic cylindrical extrudate having a width of about 1 to 5 mm, a length of about 1 to 10 mm, the thermoplastic pellet composite comprising: (a) an effective amount, sufficient to form a continuous phase in the composite, of a thermoplastic polymer composition; and (b) an effective amount of wood fiber having a minimum aspect ratio of about 1.8 to provide structural properties to the thermoplastic composite; wherein the polymer wood fiber are mixed at elevated temperature and pressure such that the fiber comprises less than about 8 wt-% water, the pellet comprises an intimate admixture of wood fiber is dispersed throughout the continuous thermoplastic polymer phase, the pellet is a recyclable thermoplastic and the composite has a Young's modulus of at least about 800,000 psi.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 143 words
A composite thermoplastic pellet, capable of formation into a structural profile or member, the pellet comprising a thermoplastic cylindrical extrudate having a width of about 1 to 5 mm, a length of about 1 to 10 mm, the thermoplastic pellet composite comprising: (a) an effective amount, sufficient to form a continuous phase in the composite, of a thermoplastic polymer composition; and (b) an effective amount of wood fiber having a minimum aspect ratio of about 1.8 to provide structural properties to the thermoplastic composite; wherein the polymer wood fiber are mixed at elevated temperature and pressure such that the fiber comprises less than about 8 wt-% water, the pellet comprises an intimate admixture of wood fiber is dispersed throughout the continuous thermoplastic polymer phase, the pellet is a recyclable thermoplastic and the composite has a Young's modulus of at least about 800,000 psi.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 20 words
The composition of claim 2 wherein the composite has a coefficient of thermal expansion of less than 1.8·10 -5 in/in-F°.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 18 words
The composition of claim 2 wherein the composite has a Young's modulus of greater than about 1,000,000 psi.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 20 words
The composition of claim 4 wherein the composite has a coefficient of thermal expansion of less than 1.8·10 -5 in/in-F°.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 19 words
The composition of claim 2 wherein the polymer occupies greater than 50% of the interior volume of the fiber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 19 words
The composition of claim 2 wherein the polymer occupies greater than 70% of the interior volume of the fiber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 13 words
The composition of claim 2 wherein the polymer comprises a polymer comprising ethylene.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 13 words
The composition of claim 2 wherein the polymer comprises a polymer comprising propylene.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 13 words
The composition of claim 2 wherein the polymer comprises a polyvinyl chloride homopolymer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 14 words
The composition of claim 2 wherein the polymer comprises a polyvinyl chloride polymer alloy.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 18 words
The composition of claim 2 wherein the wood fiber comprises a by-product of milling or sawing wooden members.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 11 words
The composition of claim 12 wherein the wood fiber comprises sawdust.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 13 words
The composition of claim 2 wherein the composition additionally comprises a compatibilizing agent.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 18 words
The composition of claim 2 wherein the polymer has a molecular weight (M W ) of about 90,000±50,000.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 20 words
The composition of claim 2 wherein the polymer comprises a copolymer having molecular weight (M W ) of about 88,000±10,000.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 37 words
The composition of claim 2 wherein the wood fiber has a fiber width of up to about 1.5 mm, a fiber length of up to about 10 mm and a aspect ratio of about 2 to 7.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 17 words
The composition of claim 2 wherein the water comprises about 0.01 to 5 wt-% of the pellet.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 16 words
The composition of claim 2 wherein the wood fiber has an aspect ratio of about 6.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 133 words
A thermoplastic polymer and wood fiber composite composition capable of formation into a structural profile or member, the thermoplastic composite composition comprising: (a) an effective amount, sufficient to form a continuous phase in the composite, of a thermoplastic polymer composition; and (b) an effective amount of wood fiber having a minimum aspect ratio of about 1.8 to provide structural properties to the composite; wherein the polymer and wood fiber are mixed at elevated temperature and pressure such that the fiber comprises less than about 8 wt-% water, the pellet comprises an intimate admixture of wood fiber dispersed throughout the continuous thermoplastic polymer phase such that the polymer wets and penetrates into wood fiber cells, the pellet is a recyclable thermoplastic and the composite has a Young's modulus of at least about 800,000 psi.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 133 words
A thermoplastic polymer and wood fiber composite composition capable of formation into a structural profile or member, the thermoplastic composite composition comprising: (a) an effective amount, sufficient to form a continuous phase in the composite, of a thermoplastic polymer composition; and (b) an effective amount of wood fiber having a minimum aspect ratio of about 1.8 to provide structural properties to the composite; wherein the polymer and wood fiber are mixed at elevated temperature and pressure such that the fiber comprises less than about 8 wt-% water, the pellet comprises an intimate admixture of wood fiber dispersed throughout the continuous thermoplastic polymer phase such that the polymer wets and penetrates into wood fiber cells, the pellet is a recyclable thermoplastic and the composite has a Young's modulus of at least about 800,000 psi.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 20 words
The composition of claim 20 wherein the composite has a coefficient of thermal expansion of less than 1.8·10 -5 in/in-F°.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 18 words
The composition of claim 20 wherein the composite has a Young's modulus of greater than about 1,000,000 psi.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 20 words
The composition of claim 22 wherein the composite has a coefficient of thermal expansion of less than 1.8·10 -5 in/in-F°.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 19 words
The composition of claim 20 wherein the polymer occupies greater than 50% of the interior volume of the fiber.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 19 words
The composition of claim 20 wherein the polymer occupies greater than 70% of the interior volume of the fiber.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 13 words
The composition of claim 20 wherein the polymer comprises a polymer comprising ethylene.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 13 words
The composition of claim 26 wherein the polymer comprises a copolymer comprising ethylene.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 13 words
The composition of claim 20 wherein the polymer comprises a polymer comprising propylene.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 13 words
The composition of claim 28 wherein the polymer comprises a copolymer comprising propylene.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 13 words
The composition of claim 20 wherein the polymer comprises a polyvinyl chloride homopolymer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 14 words
The composition of claim 20 wherein the polymer comprises a polyvinyl chloride polymer alloy.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 18 words
The composition of claim 20 wherein the wood fiber comprises a by-product of milling or sawing wooden members.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 11 words
The composition of claim 32 wherein the wood fiber comprises sawdust.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 13 words
The composition of claim 20 wherein the composition additionally comprises a compatibilizing agent.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 18 words
The composition of claim 20 wherein the polymer has a molecular weight (M W ) of about 95,000±50,000.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 21 words
The composition of claim 20 wherein the polymer comprises a copolymer has a molecular weight (M W ) of about 88,000±10,000.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 37 words
The composition of claim 20 wherein the wood fiber has a fiber width of up to about 1.5 mm, a fiber length of up to about 10 mm and a aspect ratio of about 2 to 7.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 17 words
The composition of claim 20 wherein the water comprises about 0.01 to 5 wt-% of the pellet.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim 16 words
The composition of claim 20 wherein the wood fiber has an aspect ratio of about 6.

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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) 2002-12-20 2003-06-21 2003-12-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2006-12-20 2007-06-21 2007-12-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2010-12-20 2011-06-21 2011-12-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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