Barrier membranes including a barrier layer employing aliphatic thermoplastic urethanes
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsHenry W. Bonk, David Goldwasser
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to membranes including a barrier layer which includes a blend of one or more aliphatic thermoplastic urethanes and one or more polar and partially crystalline materials. Under multi-layered embodiments, the barrier layer is laminated to at least one other layer formed from thermoplastic urethane, wherein the membranes are characterized in that hydrogen bonds are formed between the first layer of thermoplastic urethane and the second layer from the blend of aliphatic thermoplastic urethane and a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl alcohol.
Claims39
A barrier membrane having improved resistance to undesired gas permeation, comprising:
- a first layer including a combination of at least one aliphatic thermoplastic urethane and a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl alcohol;
- and
- a second layer including a thermoplastic urethane;
- wherein hydrogen bonding occurs along a segment of the membrane between the first and second layers, and further wherein said barrier membrane is sealed and is inflated with a gas toward which said membrane has a gas transmission rate value of about 10.0 cc/m2×atm×day or less and
- wherein said first layer includes up to about 50 wt. % of aliphatic thermoplastic urethane.
A barrier membrane having an improved resistance to undesired gas permeation, comprising:
- a first, barrier layer including a combination of at least one aliphatic thermoplastic urethane and one or more copolymers of ethylene and vinyl alcohol;
- a second, outer layer induding a thermoplastic urethane;
- and
- a third, inner layer including a thermoplastic urethane, wherein said second and third layers sandwich the first layer;
- wherein hydrogen bonding occurs along a segment of the membrane between the first layer and at least one of said second or third layers, and further wherein said barrier membrane is sealed and is inflated with a gas toward which said membrane has a gas transmission rate value of about 10.0 cc/m2×atm×day or less and
- wherein said first layer includes up to about 50 wt. % of aliphatic thermoplastic urethane.
A method for producing a laminated barrier membrane useful for controlling gas permeation therethrough, comprising the steps of:
- (a) extruding a first layer including a blend of at least one aliphatic thermoplastic urethane and at least one copolymer of ethylene and vinyl alcohol, wherein said first layer includes up to about 50 wt. % of aliphatic thermoplastic urethane;
- (b) extruding a second layer including a thermoplastic urethane such that said first and second layers are in physical contact, wherein hydrogen bonding occurs along a segment of the membrane between the first and second layers, and
- (c) sealing the membrane and inflating the membrane with a gas toward which said membrane has a gas transmission rate value of about 10.0 cc/m2×atm×day or less.
A method for producing a laminated barrier membrane having improved resistance to gas permeation, comprising the steps of:
- (a) simultaneously extruding:
- (1) a first layer including at least one aliphatic thermoplastic urethane and at least one copolymer of an ethylene and vinyl alcohol, wherein said first layer includes up to about 50 wt. % of aliphatic thermoplastic urethane;
- and
- (2) a second layer including a thermoplastic urethane such that said first and second layers are in physical contact;
- whereby hydrogen bonding occurs along a segment of the membrane between the first and second layers, and
- (b) sealing and inflating said membrane with a gas toward which said membrane has a gas transmission rate value of about 10.0 or less.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.