Fiber Materials, Inc.

Pioneer Plastics Corporation

Daniel C Nelson

Roger T Pepper

James R Lennox

Robert A Dumond

Douglas S Lewing

Collapsible tie rack

A decorative laminate is provided which includes one or more cellulosic core sheets, one or more decor sheets and optional overlay sheets. In one embodiment, one or more of the overlay sheets and/or decor sheets are impregnated prior to lamination with a mixture of a transparent resin and a photoluminescent material. As a result, the entire upper surface of the laminate visibly luminesces in the presence of exciting radiation. In another embodiment, an image or pattern is printed on one or more of the decor sheets with a ink including an organic photoluminescent material to provide an visibly luminescent image or pattern therein. It is envisioned that the invention could be used to provide a unique and appealing appearance when used as the surfacing for a wide variety of applications, including bowling lanes, game tables, counter-tops, dance floors, and signs such as &ldquo;exit&rdquo; signs.

Decorative laminate incorporating photoluminescent material

A decorative laminate is provided which is comprised of a one or more cellulosic core sheets, one or more decor sheets and optional overlay sheets. In one embodiment, one or more of the overlay sheets and/or decor sheets are impregnated prior to lamination with a mixture of a transparent resin and a photoluminescent material. As a result, the entire upper surface of the laminate visibly luminesces in the presence of exciting radiation. In another embodiment, an image or pattern is printed on one or more of the decor sheets with a ink including an organic photoluminescent material to provide an visibly luminescent image or pattern therein. It is envisioned that the invention could be used to provide a unique and appealing appearance when used as the surfacing for a wide variety of applications, including bowling lanes, game tables, counter-tops, dance floors, and signs such as &ldquo;exit&rdquo; signs.

Layered carbon-carbon composites having improved interlaminar tensile strength are disclosed together with a process for making such composites. A metal catalyst is first deposited on a panel comprising a plurality of layers of carbon fiber cloth. The panel is then exposed to a gaseous hydrocarbon in an inert atmosphere at elevated temperature in order to promote the growth of graphite whiskers between the carbon cloth layers.

Reinforced carbon composites

A carbonizable body is formed by infusing a plurality of preoxidized (preferably stabilized by known processing to have about 9 to 14 weight percent oxygen) polyacrylonitrile fibers in a polar liquid plasticizer, preferably water, capable of extracting a tarry leachate from the fibers. The infusion of the fibers in the plasticizer is continued for a sufficient time for a substantial amount of leachate to form on the surface of the fibers, and are then consolidated or diffusion-bonded to one another or other fibers, as by orienting the treated fibers in a mold and subjecting them to isostatic pressing at relatively low temperatures and pressure. Further processing of the consolidated fibers with appropriate heat treatment in an inert atmosphere will produce a carbonized bulk product with higher values of Young's modulus for the carbonized material than have been previously achieved at such carbonization temperatures. This carbonaceous product can be truly graphitized by subsequent heat treatment to obtain material with a modulus of at least 40.times.10.sup.6 psi, and a tensile strength of at least 20.times.10.sup.3 psi.

High carbon composite

A carbonizable body is formed by infusing a plurality of preoxidized, preferably stabilized by known processing to have about 9 to 14 weight percent oxygen, polyacrylonitrile fibers in a polar liquid plasticizer, preferably water, capable of extracting a tarry leachate from the fibers. The infusion of the fibers in the plasticizer is continued for a sufficient time for a substantial amount of leachate to form on the surface of the fibers, and are then consolidated or diffusion-bonded to one another or other fibers, as by orienting the treated fibers in a mold and subjecting them to isostatic pressing at relatively low temperatures and pressure. Further processing of the consolidated fibers with appropriate heat treatment in an inert atmosphere will produce a carbonized bulk product with higher values of Young's modulus for the carbonized material than have been previously achieved at such carbonization temperatures. This carbonaceous product can be truly graphitized by subsequent heat treatment to obtain material with a modulus of at least 40.times.10.sup.6 psi, and a tensile strength of at least 20.times.10.sup.3 psi.

Method of making a structure

A carbonizable body is formed by infusing a plurality of preoxidized, preferably stabilized by known processing to have about 17 to 30 weight percent oxygen, fibers prepared from pitch, in a non-polar liquid plasticizer, typically quinoline, capable of extracting a tarry leachate from the fibers. The infusion of the fibers in the plasticizer is continued for a sufficient time for a substantial amount of leachate to form on the surface of the fibers. The treated fibers are then consolidated or diffusion-bonded to one another or other fibers, as by orienting the treated fibers in a mold and subjecting them to isostatic pressing at relatively low temperatures and pressure. Further processing of the consolidated fibers with appropriate heat treatment in an inert atmosphere will produce a carbonized bulk product with higher values of Young's modulus for the carbonized material than have been previously achieved at such carbonization temperatures. This carbonaceous product can be truly graphitized by subsequent heat treatment to obtain material with a modulus of at least 40.times.10.sup.6 psi, and a tensile strength of at least 20.times.10.sup.3 psi.

Method of making a structure from carbonaceous fibers

A novel process is provided for the formation of improved carbonized fibrous materials with increased modulus of elasticity and strength as well as decreased diameter. Preferably, the precursor material is acrylonitrile, typically copolymerized with a minor amount of an acrylic monomer such as methyl acrylate. Drawing of the polymer fiber during oxidation is effected at an elevated temperature in the presence of a carboxylic acid (other than formic acid), or its anhydride, within the fiber. It is believed that the acid and/or its anhydride which is formed at the oxidizing temperature serves as a plasticizer and reduces the fiber yield stress and increases fiber plasticity so that the fibers may be drawn by as much as 300% or more in the presence of the acid and/or its anhydride during oxidation, thereby providing the desired improvement in increased modulus of elasticity and tensile strength of carbon fibers formed subsequently by carbonization of the oxidized fibers.

Growing community of inventors

Old Orchard Beach, ME, United States of America

Daniel C Nelson