W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.

Other

Raymond B Minor

Gordon L McGregor

John W Dolan

Gregory E Hannon

Kevin Edward Dove

Donald L Hollenbaugh, Jr

George M Roberts

Thomas Patrick Kelmartin, Jr

Carl Jones

Christopher Bowen

William P Mortimer, Jr

Brad F Abrams

William G Hardie

Daniel E Hubis

Michael Earl Kennedy

David J Minor

Huey Shen Wu

Robert L Henn

Matthew J Murphy

Norman Ernest Clough

John W Spencer, Jr

Shekoufeh Shahkarami

Edwin G Dauber

David J Mills

Joseph Krummel

Ronald G Egres, Jr

William T Connors

Daniel J Lash

Alexander Riedl

Anders B Karlstrom

Hirokazu Hisano

Mustafa Arifoglu

Norman E Clough

Shehkoufeh Shahkarami

Fabrics containing hydrophilic expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) fibers and at least one non-ePTFE fiber are provided. The fabric provides a combination of high breathability and controlled moisture management. In exemplary embodiments, the fabric may be a woven, knit, or fleece fabric. The fabrics contain at least 15% ePTFE fibers based on the final fabric. The hydrophilic ePTFE fibers in the fabrics may be used to control moisture such as water vapor, liquid water, or sweat within the fabric by storing the moisture within the hydrophilic ePTFE fiber network. Also, little to none of the moisture remains on the outside of the hydrophilic ePTFE fibers, making the fabric feel dry even where there is moisture therein. A polymer membrane and/or a textile may be laminated to the fabric to produce a laminated article.

Fabrics containing conformable low density fluoropolymer fiber blends

Woven and knit fabrics containing expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) fibers and at least one other fiber are provided. The ePTFE fiber may be woven or knit as a single, non-twisted fiber, as part of a multifilament fiber, or may be twisted or braided with another fiber. The ePTFE fiber, whether alone or in combination with a weave fiber(s), may be utilized in either the warp and/or the weft direction. The woven and knit fabrics are concurrently breathable, lightweight, durable, drapable, and fast drying. The ePTFE fibers have a substantially rectangular configuration. In some embodiments, the woven or knit fabric is flame resistant. In addition, the woven and knit fabrics are quiet, soft, and drapable. Treatments may be provided to the surface of the ePTFE fiber and/or the fabrics to impart one or more desired functionality, such as, for example, oleophobicity, anti-microbial, contamination resistance, or UV stability.

Fabrics containing expanded polytetrafluoroethylene fibers

An insert for a protective garment, the insert having a fabric having at least 45 percent by weight of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene fibers, the fabric having a 2-Grain V-50 Fragmentation Resistance of at least 700 feet per second and a FAST-2 Bending Rigidity of less than 40 microNewtonmeters.

Protective undergarment

Improved expanded PTFE materials and improved gasket materials made therefrom, the gaskets being capable of forming a seal with greater bolt load retention than is possible with existing PTFE gaskets. The expanded PTFE membranes of the invention can be tailored to exhibit a matrix tensile strength in at least one direction of at least 25,000 psi, a matrix tensile strength ratio in two orthogonal directions of between 0.25 and 4, an orientation index of 50&#xb0; or less, and a density of 2.0 g/cc or less. The improved gaskets exhibit improved mechanical properties such as high bolt load retention, low creep, high tensile strength, low stress to seal and high crystallinity index.

PTFE membranes and gaskets made therefrom

A multilayer, unitary gasket including at least one inner layer of expanded PTFE disposed between a first substantially air impermeable outer layer and a second substantially air impermeable outer layer, and a substantially air impermeable region bridging the first and second substantially air impermeable layers. The inventive gasket forms a substantially air impermeable seal when compressed at low stress.

Low stress to seal gasket

A PTFE fiber that is adapted to be sewn at high speeds. The fiber has a toughness greater than about 0.36 grams per denier (g/d). A range for the toughness is from about 0.36 to about 1.01 g/d, with a preferred range being from about 0.50 to about 0.80 g/d. The toughness of the inventive PTFE fiber is most preferably about 0.60 g/d. The inventive fiber has a peak engineering stress greater than about 1.6 g/d and a break strain greater than about 15.5 percent. A preferred range for the peak engineering stress is from about 3.0 g/d to about 5.0 g/d, and a preferred range for the break strain is from about 20 percent to about 50 percent. Most preferably, the peak engineering stress is about 4.4 g/d, and the break strain is about 24 percent. In another aspect, this invention provides a process for making a fiber that involves providing a PTFE fiber and heating the PTFE fiber to a temperature of from about 300.degree. C. to about 500.degree. C., while overfeeding the PTFE fiber at an overfeed of up to about 70 percent. A preferred range for the temperature is from about 350.degree. C. to about 450.degree. C., and a preferred range for the overfeed in the overfeeding step is from about 10 percent to about 20 percent. Most preferably, the temperature in the heating step is about 400.degree. C. and the overfeed in the overfeeding step is about 15 percent. The PTFE fiber may be used as a filament for an improved dental floss, and is also suited for an improved bearing material.

Polytetrafluoroethylene fiber

The present invention is an improved gasket for use in a wide variety of sealing applications. The gasket comprises a sheet of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) that is helically wrapped around itself and sealed in that orientation. This construction produces a gasket that has significant tensile strength in both its longitudinal and transverse axes. As such, the gasket of the present invention retains all of the operational advantages of PTFE while being quite resistant to creep.

Low creep polytetrafluoroethylene gasketing element

Process of making polytetrafluoroethylene fiber

The present invention provides and employs a very thin yet highly light reflective material for use in providing diffuse reflectivity of light, especially in tightly confined applications such as in laptop computer displays. The present invention uses an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) comprising a microstructure of polymeric nodes and fibrils combined with a coating or filler of material having a high index of refraction, such as titanium dioxide. The material of the present invention demonstrates exceptional diffuse reflectivity across a wide spectrum of visible and infrared light. Additionally, the material of the present invention provides many properties that have been previously unavailable in thin, highly diffuse reflective material, including a high degree of malleability, moldability and flexibility, and effective reflectivity even at very thin cross-sections.

Very thin highly light reflectant surface and method for making and

The present invention is an improved material and method for use for providing diffuse transflectance of light. By employing an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) comprising a microstructure of polymeric nodes and fibrils, the material of the present invention demonstrates exceptional diffuse reflectivity and transmission of light across a wide spectrum of ultraviolet, visible, and infrared light. Additionally, the material of the present invention provides many properties that have been previously unavailable in highly diffuse transflective material, including a high degree of malleability, moldability and flexibility, and effective reflectivity even at relatively thin cross-sections.

High light diffusive and low light absorbent material and method for

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Elkton, MD, United States of America

Raymond B Minor