Raychem Limited

George M Gansbuehler

George B Park

Per J Jensen

Richard J Penneck

John M Senior

Stephen Michael Baigrie

A method and article for joining two substrates or repairing a substrate comprising positioning in thermal contact with and surrounding the substrate(s) a tubular article comprising conductive polymeric material. Two electrodes extending along the whole or part of the article as connected to a source of electrical power to cause current to pass through and heat the article. The conductive polymeric material is urged radially inwards towards the substrate(s). The radially inward movement may be caused by recovery of the conductive polymeric material, or by the use of elastomeric material.

Conductive polymeric heater

A tubular heat recoverable article comprises electrically conductive polymeric material and can be recovered by passing an electric current therethrough. The article comprises two or more elongate electrodes extending at least part way along the article. One or more of the electrodes are interrupted so that separate lengths of the article can be connected to an electrical power source and heated and or recovered independently.

Conductive polymeric article

A tubular heat recoverable article comprises conductive polymeric material and is heated to effect recovery by the passage of electrical current therethrough. Elongate electrodes are attached on the surface or embedded in longitudinal flanges extending along the article. The flanges also comprise conductive polymeric material but are not heat recoverable, and therefore remain substantially undeformed on recovery other than bending to accommodate transitions. This means that the contact resistance between the electrode and the conductive material of the flange does not increase significantly on recovery.

Heat recoverable article

A particulate or filamentary coating, preferably curable, is provided on indelible labels or heat-recoverable articles, the coating comprising 4 to 90% by weight of an elastomeric binder incorporated in the coating in the form of an aqueous latex. Curable particulate materials described include epoxies and polyesters, and rubber latices include SBS, nitrile, chloroprene, EVA, and acrylates. The use of latices can enhance adhesion, ink receptivity, and humidity tolerance of the coatings.

Growing community of inventors

Swindon, United Kingdom

George M Gansbuehler