3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Enichem S.p.a

Istituto Guido Donegani

Leonard W Barrett

Ying-Yuh Lu

Chung I Young

James E Springett

Raymond Senkus

Roberta C Harper

Leslie H Sperling

A fluid permeable composite structure having active particulate bonded together using a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) polymer microparticulate. Use of the PSA polymer microparticulate to bond the active particulate together produces a bonded structure that, unlike previously-developed active bonded structures, is flexible and therefore can be conformed into a variety of shapes. The shaped structures may be used as gaseous filters in a wide variety of respirators.

Permeable shaped structures of active particulate bonded with PSA polymer microparticulate

Molded respirators containing an air-permeable, sorbent-particle-containing layer between air-permeable particle-retaining layers. The particle-containing layer is stretchable during shaping without tearing or significant loss of particles. At least some of the fibers in the particle-containing layer are sufficiently tacky after being formed by themselves into a particle-free web and cooled to room temperature so that the web will adhere to itself. The respirators can be molded from flat webs without the need to fabricate the particle-containing layer into a shaped preform.

Molded respirator containing sorbent particles

A pressure-sensitive adhesive polyacrylate polymer microparticulate obtainable by suspension polymerizing an aqueous mixture that comprises: (a) an acrylic acid ester of a nontertiary alcohol having 1 to 14 carbon atoms; (b) a polar monomer; (c) a styrene sulfonate salt; and (d) an amount of surfactant above the critical micelle concentration.

Pressure-sensitive adhesive polyacrylate polymer microparticulate and

Pressure-sensitive adhesive polyacrylate polymer and method of making

Respirator 10 has a respirator body 11 that is configured to fit over the nose and mouth of a wearer. A thermochromic material 18 is positioned on the respirator body 11 such that the thermochromic material 18 makes thermal contact with the wearer's face when the respirator 10 is worn. The contact causes the thermochromic material 18 to change color to allow the wearer to determine if a proper fit has been established.

Respirator having thermochromic fit-indicating seal

Hydroxyl group-containing triglyceride oils are effective nucleating agents for poly(ethylene terephthalate) and provide improved crystallization properties. The hydroxyl group-containing triglyceride oil may be combined with a conventional organic acid metal salt nucleating agent. By covalently bonding the hydroxyl group-containing triglyceride oil with a metal carboxylate, improved crystallization properties are obtained.

Growing community of inventors

Maplewood, MN, United States of America

Leonard W Barrett