Alliedsignal Inc.

Robert C Wincklhofer

Gene C Weedon

James J Dunbar

Dusan C Prevorsek

Sheldon Kavesh

Thomas Y Tam

Mark B Boone

Charles P Weber, Jr

Robert M Marshall

David S Cordova

Kimon C Dardoufas

Kevin M Kirkland

Greogry J LaCasse

By poststretching, at a temperature between about 135.degree. and 160.degree. C., a polyethylene fiber, which has already been oriented by drawing at a temperature within 5.degree. C. of its melting point, an ultra high modulus, very low creep, low shrink, high tenacity polyolefin fiber having good strength retention at high temperatures is obtained. The poststretching can be in multiple stages and/or with previous annealing. The poststretching should be done at a draw rate of less than 1 second.sup.-1. Tensile modulus values over 2,000 g/d for multifilament yarn are consistently obtained for ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene, with tensile strength values above 30 g/d while at the same time dramatically improving creep (at 160.degree. F. (71.1.degree. C.) and 39,150 psi load) by values at least 25% lower than fiber which has not been poststretched. Shrinkage is improved to values less than 2.5% of the original length when heated from room temperature to 135.degree. C. Performance at higher temperature is improved by about 15.degree. to 25.degree. C.

Very low creep, ultra high modulus, low shrink, high tenacity polyolefin

Method of making a high molecular weight polyolefin article

By poststretching, at a temperature between about 135.degree. and 160.degree. C., a polyethylene fiber, which has already been oriented by drawing at a temperature within 5.degree. C. of its melting point, an ultra high modulus, very low creep, low shrink, high tenacity polyolefin fiber having good strength retention at high temperatures is obtained. The poststretching can be in multiple stages and/or with previous annealing. The poststretching should be done at a draw rate of less than 1 second.sup.-1. Tensile modulus values over 2,000 g/d for multifilament yarn are consistently obtained for ultrahigh molecular weight-polyethylene, with tensile strength values above 30 g/d while at the same time dramatically improving creep (at 160.degree. F. (71.1.degree. C.) and 39,150 psi load) by values at least 25% lower than fiber which has not been poststretched. Shrinkage is improved to values less than 2.5% of the original length when heated from room temperature to 135.degree. C. Performance at higher temperature is improved by about 15.degree. to 25.degree. C.

A flexible, uncoated glove made from nonmetallic fabric comprising at least one fiber is disclosed. The glove is characterized by either weighing no more than about 30 g or having a thickness of no more than about 1.25 mm (0.05 inch), being cut resistant over some portion thereof by enduring without cutting through at least 5 cycles of an impact cam cut test, having compliance so that the wearer has a high degree of tactility, and having a cut resistance of at least 5 cycles of an impact cam cut test after a disinfectant treatment with sodium hypochlorite. The gloves are particularly useful in the medical field where they provide excellent cut protection and can be disinfected at least once while maintaining an acceptable level of cut resistance. In an alternate embodiment, a similarly characterized glove is made from a layer of fibrous material adhered to a surface of an elastomeric glove without being fully encapsulated thereby. This glove is also particularly useful in the medical field where it provides excellent cut protection.

Cut resistant protective glove

A heat and oxidation stabilized polymeric article, preferably fiber or film, is prepared by applying to the article a composition which comprises effective amounts of a nitrogen-containing antioxidant and a compatible carrier. When the composition is applied as a process finish, the carrier is a lubricant which is the reaction product of an alkylene oxide with a compound selected from the group consisting of a fatty acid having about 5 to 36 carbon atoms and an alcohol having about 5 to 36 carbon atoms, with the number of moles of alkylene oxide per mole of acid or alcohol ranging from 2 to 20. The stabilized article has utility in high performance applications.

Stabilized polymeric article and method of producing

This invention is a cut resistant article comprising a cut resistant jacket surrounding a less cut resistant member. The jacket comprises a fabric of yarn and the yarn consists essentially of a high strength, longitudinal strand having a tensile strength of at least 1 GPa. The strand is wrapped with another fiber or the same fiber. In another embodiment, the invention is a highly cut resistant yarn of at least two nonmetallic fibers. One fiber is inherently cut resistant like high strength polyethylene, polypropylene or aramids. The other fiber in the yarn has a high level of hardness.

Cut resistant yarn, fabric and gloves

This invention is a cut resistant article comprising a cut resistant jacket surrounding a less cut resistant member. The jacket comprises a fabric of yarn and the yarn consists essentially of a high strength, longitudinal strand having a tensile strength of at least 1 GPa. The strand is wrapped with another fiber or the same fiber.

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Richmond, VA, United States of America

Robert C Wincklhofer