PTFE fabric articles and methods of making same
AssigneeGore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.
InventorsNorman Ernest Clough, Sarah E. Fram
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Abstract
Unique PTFE fabric and laminate structures, and methods for making the same, are described. Particularly, the invention comprises a laminate of a fabric comprising a plurality of PTFE fibers overlapping at intersections, wherein at least a portion of the intersections have PTFE masses extending from at least one of the overlapping PTFE fibers, and which lock the overlapping PTFE fibers together, bonded to a membrane by at least said PTFE masses. Such reinforced membranes exhibit exceptionally high bond strength, a particularly valuable attribute in applications in which durability is important.
Claims28
An article comprising:
- a fabric comprising a plurality of PTFE fibers overlapping at intersections,
- wherein at least a portion of the intersections have PTFE masses extending from at least one of the overlapping PTFE fibers and
- which lock the overlapping PTFE fibers together,
- said fabric bonded to a membrane by at least said PTFE masses.
An article comprising:
- a fabric comprising a plurality of PTFE fibers overlapping at intersections,
- wherein at least a portion of the intersections have PTFE masses extending from at least one of the overlapping PTFE fibers and
- which lock the overlapping PTFE fibers together,
- said fabric bonded to a membrane by said PTFE masses.
A method for forming a PTFE article comprising:
- providing a PTFE fabric comprising a plurality of PTFE fibers overlapping at intersections, wherein at least a portion of the intersections have PTFE masses extending from at least one of the overlapping PTFE fibers and which lock the overlapping PTFE fibers together;
- bonding said PTFE fabric to a membrane.
A method for forming a PTFE article comprising:
- providing a PTFE fabric comprising a plurality of PTFE fibers overlapping at intersections;
- plasma treating said PTFE fabric;
- placing said PTFE fabric in contact with a PTFE membrane;
- and
- heat bonding said PTFE fabric to said PTFE membrane to form PTFE masses which lock the overlapping PTFE fibers together at said intersections and which extend from at least one of the overlapping PTFE fibers to bond said PTFE fabric to said PTFE membrane.
A method for forming a PTFE article comprising:
- plasma treating PTFE fibers;
- forming a PTFE fabric from said plasma treated PTFE fibers, the PTFE fabric comprising a plurality of PTFE fibers overlapping at intersections;
- placing said PTFE fabric in contact with a PTFE membrane;
- and
- heat bonding said PTFE fabric to said PTFE membrane to form PTFE masses which lock the overlapping PTFE fibers together at said intersections and which extend from at least one of the overlapping PTFE fibers to bond said PTFE fabric to said PTFE membrane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.