The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 09, 1999
Filed:
Mar. 29, 1996
Paul Klocek, Dallas, TX (US);
William J MacKnight, Amherst, MA (US);
Richard J Farris, Leeds, MA (US);
Christian Lietzau, Mt. Vernon, IN (US);
Abstract
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.