Non-planar flexible articles having improved mechanical service, and methods of making
AssigneeThe Proctor & Gamble Company
InventorHugh Joseph O'Donnell
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Abstract
Non-planar thermoplastic article having a flexible portion suitable for use in an aggressive chemical environment, with the flexible portion is an irradiated thermoplastic consisting of polyethylene, ethylene methyl acrylate, ethylene ethyl acrylate, or ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers. Such articles can be made by forming the article and then irradiating, or alternatively by radiating the thermoplastic and then forming the article.
Claims20
A process comprising:
- (a) forming a thermoplastic into a first non-planar article having a flexible portion wherein the thermoplastic comprises at least one copolymer of an alpha-olefin and either an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic ester or an alkyl acrylate;
- and
- (b) exposing the first non-planar article to an amount of radiate energy to from a treated non-planar article having a flexible portion, wherein the treated article has improved mechanical service in an aggressive chemical environment.
A process comprising:
- (a) exposing a thermoplastic, wherein the thermoplastic comprises at least one copolymer of an alpha-olefin and either an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic ester or an alkyl acrylate, to an amount of radiate energy to form a treated thermoplastic;
- and
- (b) forming the treated thermoplastic into a treated non-planar thermoplastic article having a flexible portion, wherein the treated article has improved mechanical service in an aggressive chemical environment.
A non-planar article comprising a flexible portion, the flexible portion comprising an irradiated thermoplastic, wherein the irradiated thermoplastic comprises at least one copolymer of an alpha-olefin and either an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic ester or an alkyl acrylate.
Non-planar article comprising a potential energy storage section comprising an irradiated thermoplastic, wherein the irradiated thermoplastic comprises at least one copolymer of an alpha-olefin and either an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic ester or an alkyl acrylate, and wherein the section is suitable for cyclic movement between a position of lower potential energy, and another position of higher potential energy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.