# US 10,767,290 B2 · Tape and products containing the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,767,290 B2 - Document ID: US10767290B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/993,854 - Filed: 2011-12-13 - Published: 2013-12-19 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2010-12-14 - Assignees: Dsm IP Assets B.V. - Applicants: Roelof Marissen; Koen van Putten; Antoon Maria Verspagen - Inventors: Roelof Marissen; Koen van Putten; Antoon Maria Verspagen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10767290B2 ## CPC - D04H 3/04: in rectilinear paths, e.g. crossing at right angles - B32B 5/12: characterised by the relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of {different layers, e.g. the fibres or filaments being parallel or perpendicular to each other} - B32B 5/26: another layer {next to it} also being fibrous or filamentary {(relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12)} - D04H 3/14: with bonds between thermoplastic yarns or filaments produced by welding - F41H 5/0485: {all the layers being only fibre- or fabric-reinforced layers} - B32B 2250/05: 5 or more layers - B32B 2250/20: All layers being fibrous or filamentary - B32B 2262/0253: Polyolefin fibres - B32B 2307/54: Yield strength; Tensile strength - Y10T 428/24479: including variation in thickness - Y10T 428/24612: Composite web or sheet - D04H: MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL (weaving D03; knitting D04B; braiding D04C; net-making D04G; sewing D05B; tufting D05C; finishing non-woven fabrics D06); FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING {; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION}(non-woven fabrics having an intermediate or external layer of a different kind, e.g. of woven fabric, B32B) - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - F41H: ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The invention relates to a fibrous tape comprising fused polymeric fibers, said fibrous tape having a tape thickness and a tape width and being characterized by a coefficient of variation (CV) of the tape thickness across the tape width of at most 6%. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fibrous tape comprising fused polymeric fibers, wherein at least 75 mass % of the fused polymeric fibers are oriented so as to be substantially in parallel along a common direction, and wherein the polymeric fibers have a fiber length and abutting ones of the polymeric fibers are fused to each other over an abutting length of at least 50% of the fiber length, and wherein the fibrous tape has a tape thickness from 1 μm to 200 μm, a tape width, and a coefficient of variation (CV) of the tape thickness across the tape width of at most 6%, wherein the CV of the tape thickness is calculated by: (i) obtaining a cross section of the tape by embedding the tape in epoxy resin and cutting slices of the embedded tape-resin system; (ii) selecting an enlargement using a microscope such that the width of the tape is equal to about 40 times the thickness of the tape; (iii) taking 5 measurements of the local thickness of the tape, evenly distributed across the width of the tape; and (iv) dividing the standard deviation of the 5 measurements by the average of the 5 measurements. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tape of claim 1, wherein the CV of the tape thickness across the tape width is at most 3%. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The tape of claim 1, wherein the ratio of width to thickness of the tape is at least 5:1. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The tape of claim 1, wherein the width of the tape is between 1 mm and 2000 mm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The tape of claim 1, wherein the polymeric fibers are polyolefin fibers. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The tape of claim 5, wherein the polyolefin fibers are polyethylene fibers. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The tape of claim 5, wherein the polyolefin fibers are ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene ([U]HMWPE) fibers. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tape of claim 1, wherein the tensile strength of the polymeric fibers is at least 1.2 GPa. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The tape of claim 1, wherein the tensile modulus of the polymeric fibers is at least 5 GPa. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The tape of claim 1, wherein the tape has a tensile strength of at least 1 GPa. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The tape of claim 1, wherein the tape has a tensile modulus of at least 60 GPa. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A panel comprising a stack of two or more sheets comprising monolayers which include a fibrous tape of claim 1. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A product comprising a fibrous tape of claim 1, wherein the product is selected from the group consisting of automotive products, marine products, aerospace products, life-protection products and architectural products. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The product according to claim 13, wherein the product is a product for ships, boats, marine panels, planes, helicopters, aerospace panels, body armor, ballistic vests, ballistic shields, ballistic helmets, ballistic vehicle protection, windows, doors, walls, cargo doors, cargo walls, radomes and shields. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A process for the manufacturing of a tape according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a plurality of polymeric fibers having a melting temperature Tm; (b) forming a layer comprising a network of polymeric fibers; (c) introducing the layer into a nip of a calendar and calendaring the layer with a calendaring line-pressure of at least 100 N/mm, at a temperature of below Tm of the polymeric fibers to form a tape comprising fused polymeric fibers; and (d) cooling the tape. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The process of claim 15, wherein step (d) includes cooling the tape to room temperature. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The process according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of polymeric fibers are in the form of an ordered parallel array. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The process according to claim 15, wherein step (b) comprises forming the layer comprising an abutting and unidirectionally aligned network of the polymeric fibers. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The process according to claim 18, wherein the polymeric fibers forming the abutting and unidirectionally aligned network of the layer are grouped into a plurality of yarns, each yarn having a titer of at least 220 dtex.