Microporous polyethylene filaments
AssigneeW. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
InventorRaymond B. Minor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Polyethylene (PE) and porous PE filaments and methods of manufacturing such filaments are disclosed for various applications, including dental floss, medical sutures, and in garments or other textile fabrics. The PE filaments may be expanded, folded, and/or otherwise manipulated to achieve desired characteristics, including porosity. The PE filaments may be light-weight, easy to grip, easy-gliding, non-shredding, and comfortable.
Claims16
A microporous monofilament comprising:
- a continuous polyethylene filament comprising ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) including a comonomer in an amount from 0.001 mol % to 10 mol %, and comprising interconnected pores, having:
- a width of 0.2 mm to 8.0 mm,
- a thickness of 0.02 mm to 0.35 mm,
- a porosity of 30% to 76%,
- a tensile strength of 0.1 GPa to 1.5 GPa,
- a break strength of 3 N to 50 N,
- a tenacity of 0.5 cN/dTex to 20 cN/dTex,
- an elongation at maximum load of 1% to 100%, and
- a linear density of 90 dTex to 1040 dTex.
A fabric or article of manufacture comprising at least one microporous monofilament comprising ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) including a comonomer in an amount from 0.001 mol % to 10 mol %, and comprising interconnected pores, the at least one microporous monofilament comprising a continuous polyethylene filament having:
- a width of 0.2 mm to 8.0 mm,
- a thickness of 0.02 mm to 0.35 mm, and
- a porosity of 30% to 76%,
- a tensile strength of 0.1 GPa to 1.5 GPa,
- a break strength of 3 N to 50 N,
- a tenacity of 0.5 cN/dTex to 20 cN/dTex,
- an elongation at maximum load of 1% to 100%, and
- a linear density of 90 dTex to 1040 dTex.
A method of manufacturing a microporous monofilament comprising:
- providing a polyethylene tape or membrane;
- and
- cutting the tape or membrane into a monofilament,
- wherein the monofilament comprises ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) including a comonomer in an amount from 0.001 mol % to 10 mol %, and
- wherein the monofilament has a porosity of 30% to 76%,
- a tensile strength of 0.1 GPa to 1.5 GPa,
- a break strength of 3 N to 50 N,
- a tenacity of 0.5 cN/dTex to 20 cN/dTex,
- an elongation at maximum load of 1% to 100%, and
- a linear density of 90 dTex to 1040 dTex, and comprising interconnected pores, and the method lacks any compression steps that would reduce the porosity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.