US 9,005,768 B2 · Composite materials including regions differing in properties and methods

Abstract

The invention is directed at composite materials, articles including the composite materials, and methods for producing and using them. The composite material includes regions that differ in one or more properties. The composite material generally includes a first metallic sheet, a second metallic sheet; one or more metallic inserts interposed between the first and second metallic sheets; and a polymeric layer (e.g., a core layer) interposed between the first and second metallic sheets. The polymeric layer preferably includes a thermoplastic polymer. Preferably, the composite material includes a first region having an insert interposed between the metallic sheets so that the first region (relative to the second region) has a high tensile strength, a high thickness, a high density, or any combination thereof.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A light weight composite including:

i) a first metallic sheet having a thickness of about 0.05 mm to about 30 mm;
ii) a second metallic sheet having a thickness of about 0.05 mm to about 30 mm;
iii) one or more metallic inserts, including a first insert interposed between the first metallic sheet and the second metallic sheet;
and
iv) a polymeric layer interposed between the first metallic sheet and the second metallic sheet, wherein the polymeric layer has a thickness greater than the thickness of the first metallic sheet;
wherein the polymeric layer includes a thermoplastic polymer;
the light weight composite includes a first region having the first insert interposed between the first metallic sheet, wherein the first region has a relatively high thickness;
and
the light weight composite includes a second region having a thickness less than the thickness of the first region;
wherein the ratio of the thickness of the first region to the thickness of the second region is 1.1 or more.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Composite materials including regions differing in properties and methods

Life of this patent

Composite materials including regions differing in properties and methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19