Surface modified plastic and composite articles and method
AssigneeNorthrop Corporation
InventorWilliam De La Torre
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Abstract
A method of forming a metal-containing surface on a fiber-reinforced composite plastic article is disclosed. The method entails using a "metal cloth" which is prepared from fibrillated polytetrafluorethylene containing metal or other particles entrapped in the fibrils. The resultant molded or laminated shaped articles exhibit improved wear resistance and other properties due to the integration and encapsulation of the metal cloth into the plastic surface.
Claims32
A method of modifying the surface properties of a shaped plastic article which comprises:
- (i) providing a release mold of the shaped article;
- (ii) applying atop the release mold a metal cloth which comprises fibrillate polytetrafluorethylene having particulate matter entrapped in the fibrils;
- (iii) placing a thermosetting polymeric resin atop the metal cloth;
- and
- (iv) heating the structure produced by (i)-(iii) for a sufficient period of time and at a sufficient temperature and pressure as to cause the resin to flow into and encapsulate in the metal cloth and cure to form the shaped article.
A method of forming a metallic-filled-resin composite surface on a shaped plastic article which comprises:
- (i) providing a release mold of the shaped article to be formed;
- (ii) applying atop the release mold a metal cloth which comprises fibrillated polytetrafluorethylene having metal particles entrapped in the fibrils;
- (iii) placing a thermosetting polymeric resin atop the metal cloth;
- and
- (iv) heating the structure produced by
- (i)-(iii) for a sufficient period of time and at a sufficient temperature and pressure as to cause the resin to flow into and encapsulate in the metal cloth and cure to form the shaped article.
A molded, shaped plastic article having an integral metal-filled-resin composite surface, comprising a molded body of a thermoset polymeric resin having an integral surface portion comprising a fibrillated polytetrafluorethylene metal cloth having particulate matter entrapped in the fibrils thereof, said metal cloth being integrated with said polymeric resin during the molding of said plastic article under sufficient heat and pressure to cure said polymeric resin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.