Imi-Tech Corporation

Gregory A Ferro

Raymond Lee

David W Okey

Usman A Sorathia

John Evan

By compressing and heat curing a non-resilient, non-flexible recurable material formed by subjecting cured polyimide foam to the action of pressurized steam, a wide variety of useful articles may be produced. These include tough, flame-resistant plastic films, sheets, panels, boards, and shapes in general; composites (both reinforced and unreinforced); and laminates and other articles in which separate shapes or parts are bonded together by a new type of tough, flame-resistant adhesive. Additionally, heretofore worthless products such as the kerf cut away from buns of polyimide foam during the foam manufacturing process can be converted and vastly upgraded into any of such an array of new articles of manufacture such as those just mentioned.

New articles of manufacture and their production

A non-flexible, non-resilient recurable cellular material, prepared by exposing cured polyimide foam to an atmosphere of steam at an elevated pressure, is introduced into a honeycomb or like structure so that the cells are at least partially filled with the recurable cellular material. The cellular material is then cured while contained within such cells to form a composite polyimide foam-containing structure. Laminates may be applied to either or both faces of the polyimide foam-containing cellular structure. These articles possess enhanced strength, yet are lightweight and flame resistant, and thus useful for structural, vibration damping and thermal insulation applications.

Method of making foam-filled cellular structures

Cured polyimide foam is exposed to an atmosphere of steam at elevated temperature and pressure for a period of time sufficient to convert the foam into a non-flexible, non-resilient recurable cellular material. Preferably the process is conducted such that the cellular material is recurable to a flexible resilient foam having tensile strength properties similar to the tensile strength properties of the original cured polyimide foam subjected to the process. Before recuring, the non-flexible, non-resilient recurable cellular material may be shaped or contoured, and then recured. For example, by impressing shaped articles into the recurable material followed by recuring, shipping/storage containers for the articles are readily produced.

Recurable and cured cellular materials

By compressing and heat curing a non-resilient, non-flexible recurable material formed by subjecting cured polyimide foam to the action of pressurized steam, a wide variety of useful articles may be produced. These include tough, flame-resistant plastic films, sheets, panels, boards, and shapes in general; composites (both reinforced and unreinforced); and laminates and other articles in which separate shapes or parts are bonded together by a new type of tough, flame-resistant adhesive. Additionally, heretofore worthless waste products such as the kerf cut away from buns of polyimide foam during the foam manufacturing process can be converted and vastly upgraded into any of such an array of new articles of manufacture such as those just mentioned.

Articles of manufacture and their production

A body of cured polyimide foam is treated with steam to produce a non-flexible, non-resilient cellular structure. A molding member is impressed into this structure to a depth less than the full thickness of the structure. The structure is then cured to polyimide foam with the molding member removed therefrom either before, during or after the curing has been completed. The resultant articles, which may be laminated, are useful as panels to dampen vibration and sound, and to provide thermal insulation. In addition the articles are flame resistant and flexible.

Cured polyimide foam structures and their production

A heated roll suitable for use as a fuser roll in a xerographic processes is formed from a sheet of flexible, resilient, polyimide foam. An electrical heating circuit is adhesively secured thereto. The circuit is preferably disposed between a pair of polyimide film sheets which, in turn, are secured to the foam.

High temperature compliant roll particularly adapted for xerography

A laminate and a method for its preparation comprising a polyimide foam, a fire-resistant, heat-activated adhesive overlaying a skin on the foam and a polyimide film adhered to the skin, with the laminate being prepared by contacting a foam in contact with the adhesive and film under heat and pressure to simultaneously form a skin on one surface of the foam and bond the polyimide film through the adhesive to the skin.

Polyimide laminant and process for the preparation of same

A polyimide and a process for its preparation wherein the polyimide is prepared from reaction of an organic tetracarboxylic acid or derivative thereof with a mixture of an aromatic diamine and an amine-terminated butadiene-nitrile copolymer. The polyimides of the invention are particularly useful in the preparation of flexible foams.

Polyimide foam and process for the preparation of same

Polyimide foam prepared from amino terminated butadiene acrylonitrile

A polyimide and a process for its preparation wherein the polyimide is prepared from reaction of an organic tetracarboxylic acid or derivative thereof with a mixture of an aromatic diamine and an amine-terminated silicone. The polyimides of the invention are particularly useful in the preparation of flexible foams.

Polyimide foam from mixture of silicon containing diamine and different

A polyimide and a process for its preparation wherein the polyimide is prepared from reaction of an organic tetracarboxylic acid or derivative thereof with a mixture of an aromatic diamine and an amine-terminated fluoroether. The polyimides of the invention are particularly useful in the preparation of flexible foams.

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Hoffman Estates, IL, United States of America

Gregory A Ferro