Alliedsignal Inc.

David V Cunningham

Sheldon Kavesh

Christopher P Griffin

Dusan C Prevorsek

Gary A Harpell

Leroy C Lin

Laura G Wilson

Allan R Hall

A quasi monofilament having a high strength polyethylene fiber core with an adherent, abrasion resistant polymer sheath is prepared by feeding the core yarn through a crosshead die, while simultaneously supplying a polymer melt at a temperature greater than the melting point of the core yarn to the die, for sheathing the core yarn within the die with the melt under a sufficient pressure to cause the melt to adhere to the core yarn. The abrasion resistant polymer sheath includes an effective amount of a first polymer having ethylene crystallinity, a density of at least about 0.94 g/cm.sup.3, and a melt index of less than about 0.1 g/10 min. The composition used to sheathe the core yarn is characterized by a weight average tensile strength at yield of greater than about 13.8 MPa. The quasi monofilament has utility in applications subjected to high abrasion, such as sports fishing lines, kite lines, dental floss, 'weedeater' lines and tennis racket strings.

Process for making an abrasion resistant quasi monofilament

A quasi monofilament having a high strength polyethylene fiber core with an adherent, abrasion resistant polymer sheath is prepared by feeding the core yarn through a crosshead die, while simultaneously supplying a polymer melt at a temperature greater than the melting point of the core yarn to the die, for sheathing the core yarn within the die with the melt under a sufficient pressure to cause the melt to adhere to the core yam. The abrasion resistant polymer sheath includes an effective amount of a first polymer having ethylene crystallinity, a density of at least about 0.94 g/cm.sup.3, and a melt index of less than about 0.1 g/10 min. The composition used to sheathe the core yarn is characterized by a weight average tensile strength at yield of greater than about 13.8 MPa. The quasi monofilament has utility in applications subjected to high abrasion, such as sports fishing lines, kite lines, dental floss, 'weedeater' lines and tennis racket strings.

Abrasion resistant quasi monofilament and sheathing composition

An article which includes at least one layer of a network of high strength fibers, preferably extended chain polyethylene fibers. The fibers of the network are coated with a very low modulus elastomeric matrix material, preferably an acrylic ester copolymer, which has a tensile modulus of less than about 100 psi, a tenacity of less than 450 psi (3105 kPa), a glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) of about -10.degree. C. to about -20.degree. C., and an elongation-to-break of at least about 2000%. The article can further include a second matrix material, preferably made of polyethylene, adjacent to the fiber network layer.

Soft armor composite

An improved article of the type comprising a plurality of flexible fibrous layers at least two of which are secured together by a securing means, said improvements comprising a securing means which comprises at least two adjacent paths wherein the distance between said paths is less than about 1/8 in.

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Chesterfield, VA, United States of America

David V Cunningham