3m Innovative Properties Company

Other

Larry S Hebert

Michael D Swan

Sheng Ye

Robin Edgar Wright

Jonathan D Zook

Susan E DeMoss

Naiyong Jing

Steven Y Yu

Thomas J Blong

Kevin M Hamer

Zhigang Yu

Mark W Muggli

George Van Dyke Tiers

Michael Juergens

Yaming Wang

Yiwen Chu

Gene B Nesmith

Stephen P Maki

Mark D Weigel

Timothy M Dietz

Thomas J Packard

David Adrian Ylitalo

Dmitriy Salnikov

Scott A Boyd

Gerald F Fleischhacker

Timothy D Norum

David A Sowatzke

Timothy B Norum

Susan E Demoss

Fiber-reinforced composites is provided. The composites include a plurality of prepreg layers, each comprising a polymeric resin and a plurality of fibers disposed therein; and at least one electrically-conductive layer at least partially embedded in the plurality of prepreg layers. These fiber-reinforced composites can save weight relative to externally provided wires and can be provided in forms suitable for use in automated fiber placement and automated tape layup machines. Advantageous applications include uses in lightning strike protection, energy storage, signal transmission, and power distribution.

Fiber-reinforced composite layup

Provided is a protection film including a plurality of layers, including a first carrier layer having a plurality of electrically conductive fibers; a metal layer; and a second carrier layer having a plurality of electrically conductive fibers. Each of the first and second carrier layers has a void volume at least partially filled with a hardenable composition. Also provided is a protection film including a first metal layer, a carrier layer, and a second metal layer, in which the carrier layer is at least partially filled with a hardenable composition. These films can provide lightning strike protection with suitable tensile, rigidity and tack properties for automatic tape layup and automatic fiber placement applications.

Protection film

A method of making an electrically-conductive film is provided. The method includes providing a release layer, optionally having a topologically structured surface, and depositing at least one electrically-conductive layer on the release layer whereby the at least one electrically-conductive layer has an outer surface that substantially replicates the topologically structured surface. The electrically-conductive layer can be peeled away from the release layer to obtain the electrically-conductive film. Such electrically-conductive films can be useful in lightning strike applications.

Conductive films

Various embodiments disclosed related to sealant tape. The sealant tape can include a cured product of a sealant composition including a curable liquid that includes a polysulfide, a polythioether, a copolymer thereof, or a combination thereof. The sealant composition also includes a curing agent for curing the curable liquid. Various embodiments provide cured products of the sealant composition, sealant tapes including the cured product, and sealant tapes including any suitable material with an adhesive pattern thereon.

Sealant tape

An electroplated article is provided comprising a polymeric substrate bearing an electroplated metal layer comprising copper and tin in an atomic ratio of less than 96:4, in some embodiments less than 87:13 and in some embodiments less than 82:18; wherein the atomic ratio of copper to tin is greater than 55:45, and wherein the electroplated metal layer comprises at least 3.5 weight % tin. The electroplated metal layer comprises an alloy having a melting point of less than 1050&#xb0; C. and in some cases less than 800&#xb0; C. The electroplated metal layer has a Young's Modulus of less than 15.0 GPa, in some embodiments less than 13.0 GPa, and in some less than 10.0 GPa. In addition, an electroplating solution is provided comprising Cu(II) ions, Sn (II) ions, Zn(II) ions, 1-methionine, and no cyanide anion.

Plating bronze on polymer sheets

A plated article is provided comprising a) a polymeric substrate bearing b) a tie/seed layer in direct contact with the polymeric substrate and c) a plated metal layer, wherein the tie/seed layer has a thickness of less than 0.95 &#x3bc;m, and wherein the tie/seed layer comprises two or more layers of tin alternating with two or more layers of copper, and in some embodiments up to ten or more layers of tin alternating with ten or more layers of copper. In some embodiments, the tie/seed layer includes a layer of tin in direct contact with the polymeric substrate. Typically, the layers of tin and copper comprising the tie/seed layer are sputter coated layers. In some embodiments, the plated metal layer comprises an alloy of copper and tin. In some embodiments, the plated metal layer comprises layers comprised of tin alternating with layers comprised of copper.

Plated polymeric article including tin/copper tie/seed layer

A lightning protective seal cap comprising a seal cap that defines an interior, and a quantity of an uncured sealant that is curable by the application of actinic radiation so as to bind the seal cap to a fastener. The interior of the seal cap contains the quantity of uncured sealant, the seal cap is positionable over the fastener such that at least a portion of the fastener resides in the interior of the seal cap, and when the seal cap is in position over the fastener, the sealant containing seal cap prevents electrical arcing to the fastener from a lightning strike.

Lightning protective seal cap

Methods of using and repairing seal caps as well as constructions comprising seal caps, including in some embodiments seal caps which may be useful in sealing fasteners that protrude into fuel storage cells in aircraft. In some embodiments, methods include the use of optically translucent seal cap and application of a second quantity of sealant to fill voids observed within the interior of the seal cap after cure of a first quantity of sealant.

Method of filling voids in a filled seal cap

A method is provided for making structured hybrid adhesive articles such as lightning strike protection sheets. In the embodiment for making lightning strike protection sheets, the method comprises the steps of: a) providing an adhesive article comprising: i) a base resin comprising an epoxy resin, ii) a first epoxy curative, and iii) a second epoxy curative; b) reacting the base resin with the first epoxy curative such that the first epoxy curative is substantially reacted with epoxy resin in the article and the second epoxy curative is substantially unreacted in the article; c) embossing the adhesive article with a relief pattern; d) depositing an electrically-conductive layer onto at least a portion of the embossed surface; and e) curing the adhesive article such that the second epoxy curative is substantially reacted with epoxy in the article. In some embodiments, the method additionally comprises a step of embedding a scrim in the adhesive.

Method of making structured hybrid adhesive articles including lightning strike protection sheets

Fiber reinforced resin matrix composite laminates are provided comprising: at least one layer of fiber reinforced resin matrix comprising a cured resin matrix; and a surfacing construction bound to the cured resin matrix and forming a surface of the laminate, comprising: at least one barrier layer; and at least one cured adhesive layer derived from high temperature cure adhesive. In some embodiments, barrier layer(s) may be substantially impermeable to organic solvents, water, and/or gasses. In another aspect, fiber reinforced resin matrix composite laminates are provided comprising: a) at least one layer of fiber reinforced resin matrix comprising a cured resin matrix; and b) a surfacing construction bound to the cured resin matrix and forming a surface of the laminate, comprising: at least one barrier layer; and at least one electrically conductive layer. In another aspect, a surfacing construction is provided comprising a barrier layer and a curable adhesive layer.

Surfacing film for composites with barrier layer

The present disclosure provides methods and articles useful in sealing fasteners, including seal caps and in particular translucent or transparent seals or seal caps. In some embodiments, a seal cap which is optically translucent and optionally visibly transparent contains an uncured sealant, which is optionally optically translucent or visibly transparent, and is applied to a fastener. In some embodiments, the sealant is cured by application of actinic radiation to the sealant through the seal cap. In another aspect, a protected fastener construction is provided comprising: q) a fastener; r) a seal cap; and s) a cured sealant; wherein the sealant is optically translucent and optionally visibly transparent.

Translucent seal cap

The present disclosure provides methods and articles useful in sealing fasteners, including seal caps and methods of their use, and in particular light weight seal caps having higher dielectric breakdown strength, lower weight, and/or lower wall thick-ness. In some embodiments, the seal caps according to the present invention are made of a material having a dielectric breakdown strength of greater than 1.0 kV/mm, in some embodiments greater than 15.0 kV/mm, and in some embodiments greater than 50.0 kV/mm. In some embodiments, the seal caps according to the present invention are thin-walled, having an average wall thickness of less than 1.5 mm and in some embodiments less than less than 0.5 mm In some embodiments, the seal cap comprises a polyurethane polymer, a polythioether polymer, a polysulfide polymer, a fluorinated thermoplastic polymer, a THV polymer, a fluorinated thermo-set polymer, an engineering thermoplastic, and/or a PEEK polymer.

Light weight seal cap

Presently described are methods of making coating comprising aqueous fluoropolymer latex dispersions, aqueous fluoropolymer coating compositions, coated substrates, and (e.g. backside) films of photovoltaic cells. In one embodiment, the film comprises at least one fluoropolymer comprising repeat units derived from VF, VDF, or a combination thereof; inorganic oxide nanoparticles; and a compound that reacts with the repeat units derived from VF and VDF to crosslink the fluoropolymer and/or couple the fluoropolymer to the inorganic oxide nanoparticles. In another embodiment, the backside film comprises at least one fluoropolymer comprising repeat units derived from VF, VDF, or a combination thereof; and an amino-substituted organosilane ester or ester equivalent crosslinking compound.

Fluoropolymer coatings suitable for films of photovoltaic modules

A lightning protection system is provided, typically for use on an outer surface of an aircraft, which includes the use of a lightning protection sheet that includes an electrically conductive film and at least one patterned, electrically non-conductive discriminator layer.

Growing community of inventors

Hudson, WI, United States of America

Larry S Hebert