Systems and Methods For Forming High Performance Compressible Objects
OwnerDennis G. Peiffer, Barbara Carstensen +3inventors
InventorsDennis G. Peiffer, Barbara Carstensen, Richard S. Polizzotti, Paul J. Tindall, David C. Dalrymple
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Abstract
The present systems and methods utilize a polyamic acid solution as a precursor to form a polyimide bead having desired properties. The polyamic acid solution may be formed into a polyamic acid droplet. The polyamic acid droplet is then processed to form a polyamic acid bead, such as by extraction of solvent to concentrate the polyamic acid or by partial chemical imidization of the polyamic acid. The polyamic acid bead is then better able to retain its shape during subsequent processing steps, such as drying and pressurizing, before final thermal imidization.
Claims26
A method of fabricating a compressible polyimide bead, the method comprising:
- obtaining a solution of polyamic acid in an aprotic solvent;
- forming a droplet of the polyamic acid solution;
- and
- chemically imidizing the droplet in a chemical imidization bath comprising an imidizing agent to form a partially imidized bead having an exterior wall enveloping an interior region of polyamic acid solution.
A compressible polyimide bead comprising:
- a high-density, imidized exterior wall and a low-density interior region, wherein the bead is prepared by a process comprising the steps of
- obtaining a solution of polyamic acid in an aprotic solvent;
- forming a droplet of the polyamic acid solution;
- and
- chemically imidizing the droplet in a chemical imidization bath comprising an imidizing agent to form a partially imidized bead having an exterior wall enveloping an interior region of polyamic acid solution.
A system for fabricating compressible polyimide beads, the system comprising:
- a polyamic acid solution supply comprising a solution of polyamic acid in an aprotic solvent;
- polyamic acid droplet forming equipment adapted to form substantially uniform polyamic acid droplets from the polyamic acid solution at a controlled rate;
- a chemical imidization bath comprising an imidizing agent and adapted to receive polyamic acid droplets and to partially imidize an exterior shell of the polyamic acid droplets to form a polyamic acid bead having an exterior wall enveloping an interior region of polyamic acid solution;
- a quenching station adapted to remove at least substantially all of the imidizing agent from the polyamic acid bead;
- a dryer adapted to heat the polyamic acid bead to a temperature below a boiling point of the aprotic solvent and to remove at least some aprotic solvent from the bead;
- and
- heating equipment adapted to thermally imidize the polyamic acid bead to form a compressible polyimide bead having a high-density, imidized exterior wall and a low-density interior region, wherein polyamic acid in the interior region is imidized.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.