Process for producing porous products
AssigneeW. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
InventorRobert W. Gore
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention provides a tetrafluoroethylene polymer in a porous form which has an amorphous content exceeding about 5% and which has a micro-structure characterized by nodes interconnected by fibrils. The material has high porosity and high strength. It can be used to produce all kinds of shaped articles such as films, tubes, rods, and continuous filaments. Laminations can be employed and impregnation and bonding can readily be used to produce a large variety of articles. Compressed articles of very high strength can also be produced from these porous forms.
Claims24
A process for the production of a porous article of manufacture of a polymer of tetrafluoroethylene which process comprises expanding a shaped article consisting essentially of highly crystalline poly(tetrafluoroethylene) made by a paste-forming extrusion technique, after removal of lubricant, by stretching said unsintered shaped article at a rate exceeding about 10% per second and maintaining said shaped article at a temperature between about 35.degree.C. and the crystalline melt point of said tetrafluoroethylene polymer during said stretching.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.