UHMWPE dip-coated tubes
AssigneeZeus Co., Ltd.
InventorsBhavya Singhi, John Richard Campanelli
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The disclosure provides tubes comprising ultra high molecular weight poly(ethylene) (UHMWPE). Such tubes can have thin walls and be suitable for applications, e.g., as catheter liners. Methods for preparing such tubes include dip coating a core into a dispersion comprising the UHMWPE, where the dispersion advantageously further comprises an eco-friendly solvent and can optionally include one or more additional components (e.g., fillers and/or other polymers).
Claims22
An Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) tube, wherein the tube comprises distinct, partially fused UHMWPE particles, wherein the tube exhibits:
- a. an average wall thickness of 0.004″ or less;
- and
- b. a tensile stress at break greater than 6 MPa;
- and
- c. a storage modulus of greater than 20 MPa at 37° C.,
- wherein the UHMWPE tube is formed by dip coating such that the tube exhibits little to no machine direction molecular orientation.
A coated core, comprising a continuous Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) layer over a core,
- wherein the UHMWPE layer comprises distinct, partially fused UHMWPE particles;
- and
- wherein the UHMWPE layer has an average thickness of about 0.002″ or less, an average tensile stress at break greater than 7 MPa and an average storage modulus of greater than 50 MPa at 37° C., when measured after removal from the core.
An Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) tube,
- wherein the UHMWPE tube comprises distinct, partially fused UHMWPE particles;
- and
- wherein the UHMWPE tube is prepared by dip coating a core in a dispersion comprising a UHMWPE resin and d-Limonene, wherein the dynamic viscosity of the dispersion is less than 3000 cP at 110° C.
A method for preparing an UHMWPE tube comprising Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE), comprising dip coating a core in a dispersion comprising a UHMWPE resin and d-Limonene, wherein the dynamic viscosity of the dispersion is less than 3000 cP at 110° C. and heating to form distinct, partially fused UHMWPE particles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.