Process of making a compacted polyolefin article
AssigneeBTG International Limited
InventorsRichard Albert Jones, Ian Macmillan Ward, Peter John Hine, Mark James Bonner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A polyolefin plaque is made by hot compaction of an assembly of fibers of the oriented polymer. It has been found to be beneficial to subject the fibers to a prior crosslinking process. Hot compaction is then less temperature-sensitive and produces plaques with excellent hot strength properties. Preferably the fibers have been subjected to prior stages of irradiation and annealing, both in a non-oxidizing environment, for example acetylene.
Claims24
A process for the production of a monolithic article, said process comprising subjecting an assembly of fibers of an oriented polyolefin polymer to a compaction stage wherein the assembly of fibers is (a) maintained in intimate contact at an elevated temperature sufficient to melt a proportion of the polymer, and (b) subjected to a compaction pressure such that the monolithic article is produced, wherein prior to the compaction stage, the fibers have been subjected to a cross-linking process wherein the proportion of the polymer that is melted is at least 10% but no more than 50% by weight.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.