University of Massachusetts

Raytheon Company

Texas Instruments Corporation

Raytheon Ti Systems, Inc.

Richard J Farris

Todd Emrick

E Bryan Coughlin

Thangamani Ranganathan

Paul Klocek

Christian Lietzau

William J MacKnight

Bon-Cheol Ku

Michael R Beaulieu

Joseph Zilberman

Jeremy E Morin

Reiner Giesa

Scott L Joslin

The invention provides novel flame-retardant polymers and materials, their synthesis and use. More particularly, the flame-retardant polymers are deoxybenzoin-derived polymers.

Deoxybenzoin-derived anti-flammable polymers

Deoxybenzoin-phosphonate and other copolymer compounds, compositions and related methods.

Deoxybenzoin-based anti-flammable polyphosphonate and poly(arylate-phosphonate) copolymer compounds, compositions and related methods of use

The invention provides new methods for recycling thermoset materials such as natural rubbers, synthetic rubbers, silicone rubbers, and other elastomers and cross-linked polymers (e.g., isoprene rubbers; butyl rubbers; ethylene-propylene-diene-rubbers, &ldquo;EPDM&rdquo;; nitrile, or acrylonitrile butadiene rubbers, &ldquo;NBR&rdquo;; styrene-butadiene rubbers, &ldquo;SBR&rdquo;; hard rubbers such as EBONITE&reg;; mixtures of vulcanized rubbers from discarded tires). The invention is based on the discovery that by combining powdered or particulate thermoset materials with lubricants such as aromatic or paraffinic rubber processing oils or volatile solvents, the thermoset materials can be recycled under moderate temperature and pressure conditions to rapidly produce materials having physical properties comparable to those of virgin thermoset materials. The resulting materials can, for example, be extruded or compaction molded into new shapes such as panels. The new recycling methods can also be carried out in either batch or continuous processes.

Thermoset recycling methods and solid article produced

A protective, impact resistant material and method, the material comprising a fabric of thermoplastic polymeric fibers having a strength of at least 0.4 GPa and an elastic modulus of at least 5 GPa and a matrix of polymeric material disposed in the interstices between the fibers, the matrix having an elastic modulus in the range 0.2 to 3.times.10.sup.6 psi. The polymeric fibers can be gel spun polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyvinyl alcohol and polyethylene terephthalate. In a second embodiment, the matrix is derived from the fabric. The method of making the material comprises providing a matrix of melted polymeric material transparent to energy of a predetermined type and having a predetermined melting temperature, placing a fabric of polymeric fibers having a melting temperature higher than the melting temperature of the matrix in the matrix, applying a pressure of 1000 to 6000 psi to the fabric disposed in the matrix, then raising the temperature to the melting temperature of the fabric for the minimum time required to cause consolidation of the fabric and the matrix and rapidly cooling the consolidated fabric and matrix to a temperature below the melting temperature of the fabric. In accordance with a second embodiment there is provided a fabric of polymeric fibers as in the first embodiment which is operated upon as in the first embodiment to cause melting of a sufficient portion of the fabric to fill the interstices between the fibers of the fabric and the fabric is then rapidly cooled to a temperature below the melting temperature of the fabric.

High strength, high modulus continuous polymeric material for impact

A method of making a protective coating material wherein there is provided a matrix of melted polymeric material transparent to energy of a predetermined type and having a predetermined melting temperature. A fabric of polymeric fibers having a melting temperature higher than the melting temperature of the matrix is placed in the matrix. The fibers are thermoplastic and have a strength of at least about 0.5 GPa (70,000 psi) and an elastic (Young's) modulus of at least about 25 GPa (3.6.times.10.sup.6 psi) and said matrix has an elastic modulus in the range from about 0.2 to about 3.times.10.sup.6 psi. A pressure of from about 1000 to about 2000 psi is applied to the fabric disposed in the matrix and then the temperature is raised to about and at least the melting temperature of the fabric for about the minimum time required to cause consolidation of the fabric and the matrix. The consolidated fabric and matrix are then rapidly cooled to a temperature below the melting temperature of the fabric.

Method of making a high strength, high modulus continous polymeric

High strength, high modulus continuous polymeric material for durable,

A protective, impact resistant material and method which includes a fabric of thermoplastic polymeric fibers having a strength of at least 0.5 GPa and an elastic modulus of at least 25 GPa and a matrix of polymeric material disposed in the interstices between the fibers having an elastic modulus of 0.2 to 3.times.10.sup.6 psi. The polymeric fibers can be gel spun, polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyvinyl alcohol and polyethylene terephthalate. In a second embodiment, the matrix is derived from the fabric. The method includes the steps of providing a matrix of melted polymeric material transparent to energy of a predetermined type and having a predetermined melting temperature, placing a fabric of polymeric fibers having a melting temperature higher than that of the matrix in the matrix, applying a pressure of 1000 to 2000 psi to the fabric in the matrix, then raising the temperature to the melting temperature of the fabric for the time required to cause consolidation of the fabric and the matrix and rapidly cooling the consolidated fabric and matrix to a temperature below the melting temperature of the fabric. In accordance with the second embodiment there is provided a fabric of polymeric fibers as in the first embodiment which is operated upon as in the first embodiment to cause melting of a sufficient portion of the fabric to fill the interstices between the fibers of the fabric. The fabric is then rapidly cooled to a temperature below the melting temperature of the fabric.

Method of making a protective coating material

A protective, impact resistant material and method, the material comprising a fabric of thermoplastic polymeric fibers having a strength of at least 0.5 GPa and an elastic modulus of at least 25 GPa and a matrix of polymeric material disposed in the interstices between the fibers, the matrix having an elastic modulus in the range 0.2 to 3.times.10.sup.6 psi. The polymeric fibers can be gel spun polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyvinyl alcohol and polyethylene terephthalate. In a second embodiment, the matrix is derived from the fabric. The method of making the material comprises providing a matrix of melted polymeric material transparent to energy of a predetermined type and having a predetermined melting temperature, placing a fabric of polymeric fibers having a melting temperature higher than the melting temperature of the matrix in the matrix, applying a pressure of 1000 to 2000 psi to the fabric disposed in the matrix, then raising the temperature to the melting temperature of the fabric for the minimum time required to cause consolidation of the fabric and the matrix and rapidly cooling the consolidated fabric and matrix to a temperature below the melting temperature of the fabric. In accordance with a second embodiment there is provided a fabric of polymeric fibers as in the first embodiment which is operated upon as in the first embodiment to cause melting of a sufficient portion of the fabric to fill the interstices between the fibers of the fabric and the fabric is then rapidly cooled to a temperature below the melting temperature of the fabric.

Polyester fibers comprising a poly(alkylene) terephthalate matrix containing either random or block copolyesters which are liquid crystalline and which contain: (a) alkoxy-substituted para-phenylene terephthalate groups (i.e., derived from an analogously substituted hydroquinone reagent); and (b) alkylene-terephthalate groups (e.g., where the alkylene moiety contains 2 to 10 carbon atoms).

Growing community of inventors

Leeds, MA, United States of America

Richard J Farris