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US 6,673,455 B2Granted
Flexure endurant composite elastomer compositions
AssigneeGore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.
InventorsMichael Allen Zumbrum, Jason William Muller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A flexure endurant composition of an elastomer reinforced with a continuous phase of microporous, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) having a ratio of elastomer to PTFE of approximately 1:1 to 50:1 on a volume basis. The composite is prepared by a coating process and the final articles are prepared by molding or vulcanizing. Such materials can be used to fabricate pump tubing, pump diaphragms, gaskets, bellows and other mechanical devices.
Claims28
A composite comprising:
- a plurality of expanded PTFE layers having a node and fibril structure, wherein the PTFE layers are impregnated with at least one elastomer;
- and layers of elastomer,
- wherein the impregnated PTFE layers are adhered together by the layers of elastomer, and wherein the ratio of a thickness of an elastomer layer to a thickness of an impregnated expanded PTFE layer is 6.5:1 or less.
A composite article comprising:
- a plurality of expanded PTFE membrane layers having a node and fibril structure, the layers having a thickness between 0.2 mil and 3.5 mil and being impregnated with at least one elastomer;
- and
- layers of elastomer;
- wherein the impregnated layers are adhered together by layers of elastomer, and wherein the volume ratio of elastomer to expanded PTFE in the article is at least 4:1.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.