Microporous metal-plated polytetrafluoroethylene articles and method of manufacture
AssigneeW. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
InventorJames L. Manniso
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Abstract
Microporous polytetraflouroethylene (PTFE) articles, having a microstructure of nodes interconnected by fibrils also having continuous interporous metal coatings which encapsulate the nodes and fibrils of the PTFE while maintaining substantial porosity are disclosed, together with a method of producing temporary liquid-filled hydrophilic microporous article resulting in an improved metal plating manufacturing process.
Claims33
A metal-coated article wherein said article is a microporous polytetrafluoroethylene tube having a micro-structure of nodes interconnected by fibrils, said metal coating substantially encapsulating at least some of the individual nodes and fibrils, the tube having inner and outer surfaces, said tube also being flexible and electrically conductive through at least a portion of the microporous structure while retaining porosity.
A metal-coated microporous article comprising:
- (a) a microporous polytetrafluoroethylene substrate having a microstructure of nodes interconnected by fibrils, and
- (b) a continuous interporous coating of conductive metal, said metal coating substantially encapsulating at least some of the individual nodes and fibrils, wherein at least one surface of the article is electrically conductive and wherein at least a portion of volume of the article beneath said one surface is electrically conductive while returning porosity.
A layered article comprising:
- (a) a microporous polytetrafluoroethylene first layer having a microstructure of nodes interconnected by fibrils and a continuous interporous coating of conductive metal, said metal coating substantially encapsulating at least some of the individual nodes and fibrils, said first layer also being flexible and electrically conductive along at least one layer surface and also from said one surface along a path perpendicular to said one surface through at least a portion of the first layer thickness while retaining porosity, said first layer also having a bulk density less than about 10 g.p.m./cc;
- and
- (b) a second layer contacting said first layer at the surface opposite said one surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.