Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Robert L Lambert, Jr

Clyde D Calhoun

David C Koskenmaki

Pamela S Tucker

David Jon Lundin

Donald M Yenni, Jr

A thermoformable add-on EMI shielding sheet comprising a carrier material selected from polymeric films and fibrous webs having the capability of becoming porous when thermoformed, having a metal mat at least partially embedded therein, comprising a plurality of fine, randomly-oriented metal fibers, the carrier material having a softening temperature lower than the highest temperature reached during the thermoforming process.

Metal fibermat/polymer composite

A cover assembly includes an expanded elastomeric tube supported in the expanded state by an internal frangible support core. The support core possesses sufficient strength to resist contraction of the tube but will break upon the addition of relatively little additional external force. Breakage of the core allows the tube to contract and securely cover and seal to the object to which the cover assembly is applied.

Cover assembly of expanded elastomeric tubing having frangible support

The present invention provides a metal/polymer composite comprising a polymeric substrate and a sintered mat of randomly-oriented metal fibers embedded therein, the fibers having a substantially circular cross-section and a diameter of about 10 to 200 .mu.m. The polymeric substrate is typically a thin, flexible sheet-like material having a pair of planar surfaces. The polymeric substrate is preferably thermoformable. If thermoformability is desired the metal will have a melting point of less than the thermoforming temperature of the polymeric substrate. The thermoformable metal/polymer composite of the present invention may be stretched to at least 20%, and often can be stretched at least 200% of its original dimensions, at least in certain regions, without loss of electrical continuity or EMI shielding properties. The present invention also provides a method of making a metal/polymer composite and a sintered mat of randomly-oriented metal fibers.

Method of forming metal fiber mat/polymer composite

Metal fiber mat/polymer composite

Volatile, hydrolyzable silyl-substituted dyestuffs are used in transfer sheets which, by heating, transfer an image to a substrate. The image has high optical density and resistance to diffusion in high temperature environments. The dyestuffs are of the formula ##STR1## wherein A is a dyestuff nucleus selected from anthraquinone, naphthoquinone, phenylazophenyl or styryl, which nucleus is substituted by R and may be substituted by auxochromic or bathochromic groups, R is H, alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, phenyl or Q, and at least one R is Q, Q is --R.sup.1 --W--Si(R.sup.2).sub.3, R.sup.1 is a divalent aliphatic group of 2 to 10 carbon atoms, W is 0, S or NR.sup.3, R.sup.3 is H, alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or phenyl and each R.sup.2 is individually the same or different selected from hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyloxy, chlorohydrocarbyl or bromohydrocarbyl in which the sum of carbons is not greater than 12.

Growing community of inventors

Georgetown, TX, United States of America

Robert L Lambert, Jr