Flexible composite laminate of woven fabric and thermoplastic material and method of making said laminate
AssigneeThe Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
InventorAnthony J. Foti
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Abstract
A composite laminate of relatively light to medium gauge and a method of making the laminate. The laminate comprises a hot melt type thermoplastic material and a textile woven fabric material formed of spun yarns constructed primarily of staple fibers. The thermoplastic material covers and is bonded to at least one face of the fabric and penetrates into the interstices thereof a maximum of from about 15% to about 75% but does not penetrate a substantial amount into the yarn structure itself thereby permitting an optimum amount of flexibility of the laminate. The laminates of the invention are particularly useful as conveyor belts or slings for vehicle tires.
Claims18
A composite laminated web of relatively light to medium gauge of from about 0.076mm to about 0.370mm (0.30 inches to 0.145 inches) comprised of a hot melt type thermoplastic material and a closely woven textile fabric material formed of spun yarns constructed primarily of staple polyester fibers wherein the thermoplastic material covers and is bonded to at least one face of said fabric by adhesion of the thermoplastic to minute fibrils of the spun polyester yarn and penetrates into the interstices thereof a maximum of from about 15% to about 75% but does not penetrate a substantial amount to strike through the yarn structure thereof thereby permitting an optimum amount of flexibility of said web.
A method of making a composite laminated web of relatively light to medium gauge comprised of a hot melt type thermoplastic material and a tightly woven fabric material formed of spun yarns constructed primarily of staple polyester fibers, said method comprising the steps of:
- (A) arranging an assembly of unbonded components in a non-adhered superposed relation, said components including at least one web of said thermoplastic material and at least one web of said fabric;
- (B) continuously and progressively heating said unbonded components at a temperature of from about 80.degree. C. to about 130.degree. C. (180.degree. F. to 270.degree. F.) and for a time sufficient to cause said thermoplastic material to melt and flow into a portion of the interstices of said fabric and form a mechanical bond with minute fibrils of the spun yarn at the confronting face thereof;
- (C) applying only a limited controlled pressure of about 2100 kg/cm to about 3300 kg/cm (30 psi to 47 psi) to said components during the heating thereof to prevent penetration of said thermoplastic material into the interstices of each face of said fabric beyond a maximum depth of from about 20% to about 30% and to prevent any strike-through of said yarns by said thermoplastic material;
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- (D) cooling said components to a temperature of from about 65.degree. C. to about 115.degree. C. (150.degree. F. to 240.degree. F.) to solidify said thermoplastic material and thereby form a bonded composite laminate of relatively high flexibility.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.