Multilayered composite
AssigneeZeus Industrial Products, Inc.
InventorsBruce L. Anneaux, Robert L. Ballard, David P. Garner
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Abstract
In accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a process for forming a multilayered electrospun composite is provided. The process includes forming a dispersion of polymeric nanofibers, a fiberizing polymer, and a solvent, the dispersion having a viscosity of at least about 50,000 cPs. Nanofibers from the dispersion are electrospun onto a first ePTFE layer. A second ePTFE layer is applied onto the nanofibers to form a composite structure. The composite structure is heated.
Claims8
1-20. (canceled)
A composite structure comprising a first tubular polymeric layer defining an inner surface of the structure and a second tubular polymeric layer defining an outer surface of the structure, and a third material layer between the first tubular polymeric layer and the second polymeric layer, wherein at least the first tubular polymeric layer defining the inner surface comprises a plurality of electrospun polytetrafluoroethylene (espun PTFE) nanofibers.
A process for forming a mulilayered electrospun composite structure comprising:
- electrostatically spinning nanofibers from a dispersion or solution to create a mat of electrospun nanofibers,
- combining the mat of electrospun nanofibers with a second layer of material selected from the group consisting of woven fabrics of natural fibers, woven fabrics of man-made fibers, nonwoven fabrics of natural fibers, nonwoven fabrics of man-made fibers, plastic membranes, ceramic membranes, metal meshes, ceramic meshes and plastic meshes;
- pressing the electrospun mat onto the second layer;
- and
- heating the composite structure.
The process of claim 20, further comprising creating the second layer of material, wherein creating the second layer comprises electrostatically spinning nanofibers from a solution selected from the group consisting of a solution of nylon, a solution of polyurethane, a solution of polyester, and a solution of fluorinated ethylene propylene to create the second layer of electrospun nanofibers, and wherein combining the mat of electrospun nanofibers with a second layer of material comprises combining the mat of electrospun PTFE nanofibers with the second layer of electrospun nanofibers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.