|Publication number||US4187390 A|
|Application number||US 05/808,545|
|Publication date||Feb 5, 1980|
|Filing date||Jun 21, 1977|
|Priority date||May 21, 1970|
|Publication number||05808545, 808545, US 4187390 A, US 4187390A, US-A-4187390, US4187390 A, US4187390A|
|Inventors||Robert W. Gore|
|Original Assignee||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (14), Referenced by (860), Classifications (46), Legal Events (5) |
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
Porous products and process therefor
US 4187390 A
This invention provides a tetrafluoroethylene polymer in a porous form which has an amorphous content exceeding about 5% and which has a micro-structure characterized by nodes interconnected by fibrils. The material has high porosity and high strength. It can be used to produce all kinds of shaped articles such as films, tubes, rods, and continuous filaments. Laminations can be employed and impregnation and bonding can readily be used to produce a large variety of articles. Compressed articles of very high strength can also be produced from these porous forms.
What is claimed is:
1. A porous material consisting essentially of highly crystalline polytetrafluoroethylene polymer, which material has a microstructure characterized by nodes interconnected by fibrils and has a matrix tensile strength in at least one direction above about 7,300 psi.
2. A porous material in accordance with claim 1 containing a small amount of a copolymer.
3. A porous material in accordance with claim 2 in which said copolymer is a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and ethylene.
4. A porous material in accordance with claim 2 in which said copolymer is a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and chlorotrifluoroethylene.
5. A porous material in accordance with claim 2 in which said copolymer is a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene.
6. A porous material in accordance with claim 1 in which a majority of said fibrils are made up of individual fibrils having diameters of about 5 angstroms to about 1000 angstroms.
7. A porous material in accordance with claim 1 in which a majority of said nodes have lengths from about 0.5 micron to about 400 microns.
8. A porous material in accordance with claim 1 which has not been heated to a temperature above 327° C. and has a crystallinity greater than about 95%.
9. A porous material consisting essentially of polytetrafluoroethylene polymer, which material has a microstructure characterized by nodes interconnected by fibrils and has a matrix tensile strength in at least one direction above 9290 psi, which material has been heated to a temperature above the crystalline melt point of said polymer and has a crystallinity below about 95%.
10. A material in accordance with claim 1 which has been compressed to reduce its porosity and has a porosity below about 40%.
11. A porous material in accordance with claim 1 which is in the form of a shaped article.
12. A porous material in accordance with claim 9 which is in the form of a shaped article.
13. A product in accordance with claim 11 which is in the form of a film.
14. A product in accordance with claim 12 which is in the form of a film.
15. A product in accordance with claim 11 which is in the form of a tube.
16. A product in accordance with claim 12 which is in the form of a tube.
17. A product in accordance with claim 11 which is in the form of continuous filaments.
18. A product in accordance with claim 12 which is in the form of continuous filaments.
19. A product in accordance with claim 11 which is rod-like in form.
20. A product in accordance with claim 12 which is rod-like in form.
21. A porous material in accordance with claim 1 which has a porosity of less than about 97%.
22. A porous material in accordance with claim 9 which has a porosity of less than about 97%.
23. A porous material in accordance with claim 21 which has a porosity of 40-75%.
24. A porous material in accordance with claim 22 which has a porosity of 40-75%.
25. A porous material in accordance with claim 1 which has a matrix tensile strength in at least one direction in excess of 100,000 psi.
26. A porous material in accordance with claim 1 which has a matrix tensile strength in at least one direction of about 12,800 psi.
27. A porous material in accordance with claim 9 which has a matrix tensile strength in at least one direction of about 13,100 psi.
28. A porous material in accordance with claim 9 which has a matrix tensile strength in at least one direction of about 16,800 psi.
29. A porous material in accordance with claim 9 which has a matrix tensile strength in at least one direction of about 20,300 psi.
30. A porous material in accordance with claim 9 which has a matrix tensile strength in at least one direction of about 25,200 psi.
31. A porous material in accordance with claim 9 which has a matrix tensile strength in at least one direction of about 30,000 psi.
32. A porous material in accordance with claim 9 which has a matrix tensile strength in at least one direction of about 36,200 psi.
33. An electrical conductor insulated with the porous material of claim 1.
34. An electrical conductor insulated with the porous material of claim 9.
35. A laminated structure comprising (a) a first shaped article formed of a porous material made of a tetrafluoroethylene polymer, which material has a microstructure characterized by nodes interconnected by fibrils and has a matrix tensile strength in at least one direction above about 7,300 psi, and (b) a second shaped article bonded to said first shaped article.
36. The structure of claim 35 in which said first shaped article is formed of a porous material which has a matrix tensile strength in at least one direction of at least 9290 psi, and has a crystallinity below about 95%.
37. The laminated structure of claim 36 in which a bonding agent bonds said first shaped article to said second shaped article, and said bonding agent is present in the pore network of portions of said porous material that are positioned adjacent said second shaped article.
38. The laminated structure of claim 36 in which said second shaped article is formed of a porous tetrafluoroethylene polymer which has a matrix tensile strength in at least one direction of at least 9290 psi, and a crystallinity below about 95%.
39. The laminated structure of claim 38 in which said second shaped article is bonded to said first shaped article by amorphous locking of two abutting poly(tetrafluoroethylene) surfaces.
40. An improvement in coaxial cable of the type comprising an inner conductor, an insulating core, and an outer metallic shield, the improvement comprising: a core formed of porous poly(tetrafluoroethylene) tape wrapped around the conductor, the poly(tetrafluoroethylene) having a microstructure characterized by nodes interconnected by fibrils, a matrix tensile strength in at least one direction above about 9290 psi, and a crystallinity below about 95%.
41. The coaxial cable of claim 40 in which said porous poly(tetrafluoroethylene) tape has a dielectric constant of from 1.2-1.8.
42. A porous material made of a tetrafluoroethylene polymer, which material has a microstructure characterized by nodes interconnected by fibrils, which material (a) has a matrix tensile strength in at least one direction above about 9290 psi, (b) has been heated to a temperature above 327° C. and has a crystallinity below about 95%, and (c) has a thermal conductivity between about 0.17 Btu/hr/sq.ft./°F./in. and 0.85 Btu/hr/sq.ft./°F./in.
43. A porous material made of a tetrafluoroethylene polymer, which material has a microstructure characterized by nodes interconnected by fibrils, which material (a) has a matrix tensile strength in at least one direction above about 9290 psi, (b) has been heated to a temperature above 327° C. and has a crystallinity below about 95%, and (c) has a dielectric constant of 1.2-1.8.
44. A porous material made of a tetrafluoroethylene polymer, which material has a microstructure characterized by nodes interconnected by fibrils, which material (a) has a matrix tensile strength in at least one direction above about 9290 psi, (b) has been heated to a temperature above 327° C. and has a crystallinity below about 95%, and (c) has a permeability to nitrogen of from about 1×10-8 to 1×10-1 metric units.
45. A filled structure comprising
(a) a shaped article formed of a porous material made of a tetrafluoroethylene polymer which material has a microstructure characterized by nodes interconnected by fibrils and a matrix tensile strength in at least one direction above about 7,300 psi, and
(b) a filler within the pores of said shaped article.
46. The structure of claim 45 in which said shaped article is formed of a porous material made of a tetrafluoroethylene polymer, which article has a matrix tensile strength in at least one direction of at least 9290 psi, and has a crystallinity below about 95%.
47. The structure of claim 45 in which the filler is asbestos.
48. The structure of claim 45 in which the filler is carbon black.
49. The structure of claim 45 in which the filler is a pigment.
50. The structure of claim 45 in which the filler is mica.
51. The structure of claim 45 in which the filler is silica.
52. The structure of claim 45 in which the filler is titanium dioxide.
53. The structure of claim 45 in which the filler is glass.
54. The structure of claim 45 in which the filler is potassium titanate.
55. The structure of claim 45 in which the filler is a dielectric fluid.
56. The structure of claim 45 in which the filler is a polysiloxane.
57. The structure of claim 46 in which the filler is carbon black.
58. The structure of claim 46 in which the filler is a pigment.
59. The structure of claim 46 in which the filler is mica.
60. The structure of claim 46 in which the filler is silica.
61. The structure of claim 46 in which the filler is titanium dioxide.
62. The structure of claim 46 in which the filler is glass.
63. The structure of claim 46 in which the filler is potassium titanate.
64. The structure of claim 46 in which the filler is a dielectric fluid.
65. The structure of claim 46 in which the filler is a polysiloxane.
66. The structure of claim 46 in which the filler is asbestos.
67. An impregnated structure comprising
(a) a shaped article formed of a porous material made of a tetrafluoroethylene polymer which material has a microstructure characterized by nodes interconnected by fibrils and a matrix tensile strength in at least one direction above about 9290 psi, and
(b) a polymer impregnated within the pores of the said shaped article.
68. The impregnated structure of claim 67 in which the polymer impregnated within the pores of the said shaped article is poly(methyl methacrylate).
69. A bearing material made of the impregnated structure of claim 67.
70. A bearing material made of the impregnated structure of claim 68.
71. The product of claim 1 in which said material has been expanded by stretching at a rate exceeding about 10% per second, and by maintaining said material at a temperature between about 35° C. and the crystalline melt point of said polytetrafluoroethylene polymer during said stretching, such that its final length in the direction of expansion is greater than about twice its original length.
72. The product of claim 71 in which said final length is greater than about three times said original length.
73. The product of claim 71 in which said final length is greater than about five times said original length.
74. The product of claim 71 in which said final length is greater than about seven times said original length.
75. The product of claim 71 in which said final length is about fifteen times said original length.
76. The product of claim 71 in which said final length is greater than about twenty-four times said original length.
77. The structure of claim 35 in which the first shaped article is a sheet having pores that will pass a gas but will not pass liquid water.
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 637,298, filed Dec. 3, 1975, now abandoned, which is a division of application Ser. No. 376,188, filed July 3, 1973, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,953,566, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 39,753, filed May 21, 1970, now abandoned.
Tetrafluoroethylene polymers and, in particular, poly(tetrafluoroethylene) are gaining more and more uses because of their chemical inertness and desirable physical properties such as water-repellancy and electrical insulating abilities. In one very large area, the field of porous articles, their use has been substantially blocked by the very considerable difficulty of making an article porous and keeping it so and providing it with adequate strength. Complicated, expensive processes have been devised such as adding a filler to the polymer prior to shaping and then removing the filler after shaping, for example, by leaching it out of the shaped article with a solvent or by melting or burning it out. Not only are the process steps time consuming but the cost of such processes make them unattractive commercially.
Therefore, an objective of this invention is the provision of economical processes for producing highly porous materials from tetrafluoroethylene polymers. A further aim is to provide such processes which impart very high strengths to the resultant products. A still further purpose is providing the products themselves and, in particular, products from poly(tetrafluoroethylene) which are highly porous and have high strengths. Also, dense products of polytetrafluoroethylene are produced that have extremely high strength. These and other objectives appear hereinafter.
The invention described herein provides products of a tetrafluoroethylene polymer which have outstanding combinations of high porosity and high strength. In this regard they not only exceed previously available fluorocarbon polymeric products, but are unique among porous plastic materials. The porous structure produced by the processes of this invention is permeable and can be laminated, impregnated, and bonded with other materials to provide composite structures having novel and unique properties.
The objectives of this invention are accomplished by a process involving expanding paste-formed products of a tetrafluoroethylene polymer to make them both porous and stronger, and subsequently heat treating them to increase their strength further while retaining a porous structure. Paste-forming techniques are used to convert the polymer in paste form to a shaped article which is then expanded, after removing the lubricant, by stretching it in one or more directions; and while it is held in its stretched condition it is heated to at least 327° C. after which it is cooled. The porosity that is produced by the expansion is retained for there is little or no coalescence or shrinking upon releasing the cooled, final article. The description and the examples below further describe the processes and the products of this invention.
Paste-forming of dispersion polymerized poly(tetrafluoroethylene) is well known commercially. Extrusions of various cross-sectional shapes such as tubes, rods and tapes are commonly obtained from a variety of tetrafluoroethylene resins, and other paste-forming operations such as calendering and molding are practiced commercially. The steps in paste-forming processes including mixing the resin with a lubricant such as odorless mineral spirits and carrying out forming steps in which the resin is subjected to shear, thus making the shaped articles cohesive. The lubricant is removed from the extruded shape usually by drying. In usual practice this unsintered product is heated above the polymer's melting point, generally about 327° C., causing it to sinter or coalesce into an essentially impermeable structure. However, it is the unsintered product that is the precursor of the invention herein.
In this invention it has been found that such paste-formed, dried, unsintered shapes can be expanded by stretching them in one or more directions under certain conditions so that they become substantially much more porous and stronger. This phenomenon of expansion with increase in strength occurs with certain preferred tetrafluoroethylene resins and within preferred ranges of rate of stretching and preferred ranges of temperature. The preferred temperature range is from 35° C. to 327° C. At the lower temperatures within this range it has been found that there is a maximum rate of expansion beyond which fracture occurs, as well as a lower limit beneath which fracture also occurs or where weak materials are obtained. The lower limit is of much more practical significance. At high temperatures within this range, only the lower limit of rate has been detected. The lower limit of expansion rates interact with temperature in a roughly logarithmic fashion, being much higher at higher temperatures. Most, but not all, of the desirable products of this invention are obtained when expansion is carried out at the higher temperatures within the range of 35° C. to 327° C. The balance of orientation in the extruded shape also affects the relationship between the proper range of rates and temperature. It is found that some resins are much more suitable for the expansion process than others, since they can be processed over a wider range of rate and temperature and still produce useful products. The primary requisite of a suitable resin is a very high degree of crystallinity, preferably in the range of 98% or above, and correspondingly low amorphous content. It has been found that techniques for increasing the crystallinity, such as annealing at high temperatures just below the melt point, improve the performance of the resin in the expansion process. Copolymers of tetrafluoroethylene, which have defects in the crystalline structure that introduce a higher amorphous content, do not work as well in this invention as homopolymers. However, it is found, for example, that resins which contain less than 0.2% of hexafluoropropylene as a co-monomer can be made to work in this invention by going to very high rates of expansion at high temperatures just below the melt point.
The porous microstructure of the expanded material is affected by the temperature and the rate at which it is expanded. The structure consists of nodes interconnected by very small fibrils. In the case of uniaxial expansion the nodes are elongated, the longer axis of a node being oriented perpendicular to the direction of expansion. The fibrils which interconnect the nodes are oriented parallel to the direction of expansion. These fibrils appear to be characteristically wide and thin in cross-section, the maximum width being equal to about 0.1 micron (1000 angstroms) which is the diameter of the crystalline particles. The minimum width may be one or two molecular diameters or in the range of 5 or 10 angstroms. The nodes may vary in size from about 400 microns to less than a micron, depending on the conditions used in the expansion. Products which have been expanded at high temperatures and high rates have a more homogeneous structure, i.e. they have smaller, more closely spaced nodes and these nodes are interconnected with a greater number of fibrils. These products are also found to have much greater strength.
It should be noted that during the expansion process a tremendous increase in strength is introduced into the structure, for while the porosity increases the strength actually increases, so there is often greater than a tenfold increase in strength of the polymeric matrix. In patent application Ser. No. 863,446, filed Oct. 3, 1969, a process is described for expanding unsintered poly(tetrafluoroethylene) sheet, rods and shapes to give low density but low strength products. However, I have discovered that by performing the stretching at a very high rate, a surprising increase in strength is obtained. Although most materials fracture when subjected to a high rate of strain, highly crystalline poly(tetrafluoroethylene) withstands this treatment without breaking.
By definition, the tensile strength of a material is the maximum tensile stress, expressed in force per unit cross sectional area of the specimen, which the specimen will withstand without breaking (see, for example, The American Society for Testing and Materials. "1970 Annual Book of ASTM Standards Part 24", at p. 41). For porous materials, the cross sectional area of solid polymer within the polymeric matrix is not the cross sectional area of the porous specimen, but is equivalent to the cross sectional area of the porous specimen multiplied by the fraction of solid polymer within that cross section. This fraction of solid polymer within the cross section is equlvalent to the ratio of the specific gravity of the porous specimen itself divided by the specific gravity of the solid polymeric material which makes up the porous matrix. Thus to compute matrix tensile strength of a porous specimen, one divides the maximum force required to break the sample by the cross sectional area of the porous sample, and then multiplies this quantity by the ratio of the specific gravity of the solid polymer divided by the specific gravity of the porous specimen. Equivalently, the matrix tensile strength is obtained by multiplying the tensile strength computed according to the above definition by the ratio of the specific gravities of the solid polymer to the porous product. In the examples which follow, both tensile strength and matrix tensil strength are shown, computed according to the above method, the lowest matrix strength measured being above 7300 p.s.i. In other words, the products shown herein all have matrix strengths of above about 7300 p.s.i.
When the expanded products are heated to above the lowest crystalline melting point of the poly(tetrafluoroethylene), disorder begins to occur in the geometric order of the crystallites and the crystallinity decreases, with concomitant increase in the amorphous content of the polymer, typically to 10% or more. These amorphous regions within the crystalline structure appear to greatly inhibit slippage along the crystalline axis of the crystallite and appear to lock fibrils and crystallites so that they resist slippage under stress. Therefore, the heat treatment may be considered an amorphous locking process. The important aspect of amorphous locking is that there be an increase in amorphous content, regardless of the crystallinity of the starting resin. Whatever the explanation, the heat treatment above 327° C. causes a surprising increase in strength, often doubling that of the unheat-treated material.
Because the upper melting range of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) polymer as (polymerized) is about 345° C., the heat treatment appears to be more effective above this temperature, although lower temperatures are equivalent if the exposure time is long enough. The optimum heat treating temperature is in the range of 350° C. to 370° C. and the heating periods required may range from about 5 seconds to about one hour. The microstructure of the expanded product is not substantially changed by the amorphous locking step. However, if the amorphous locking is carried out at too high a temperature for too long a time, the microstructure may become coarse as the nodes increase in size and the fibrils rupture, and in this case there is a noticeable deterioration in strength, but this presents no problem since one can very readily determine the optimum time and temperature for the given tetrafluoroethylene polymer being processed. Temperatures above about 390° C. may cause this disintegration and loss of strength in less than one minute. In heat treating films it is essential that they be held so they cannot retract during the amorphous locking process. It is surprising that the expanded structures of this invention do not coalesce during the heat treatment to form high density products. If unexpanded films, having a density of about 1.5 gm/cm3 are so heated, they coalesce to form an essentially void-free material having a room temperature density of about 2.15 gm/cm3. Very little increase in density occurs when the products below about 1.00 gm/cm3 density are heated above the 327° C. temperature.
The increase in strength of the polymer matrix is dependent upon the strength of the extruded material before expansion, the degree of crystallinity of the polymer, the rate and temperature at which the expansion is performed, and amorphous locking. When all these factors are employed to maximize the strength of the material, tensile strengths of 10,000 psi and above, with porosity of 90% or more are obtained. In these cases the polymeric matrix has strengths in excess of 100,000 psi. In contrast, the maximum tensile strength of conventional extruded or molded poly(tetrafluoroethylene) after sintering is generally considered to be about 3,000 psi, and for conventional extruded and calendered poly(tetrafluoroethylene) tape which has been sintered the maximum is about 5,100 psi.
Before describing examples of processes and products within this invention, a further description of the properties of expanded, amorphous-locked tetrafluoroethylene polymers will be helpful. As indicated above, some of the properties of these expanded, amorphously locked polymers are substantially different from the corresponding properties of conventional extruded or molded tetrafluoroethylene polymers. As a result of these differences, expanded, amorphously locked materials are useful in many applications where extruded or molded materials cannot be used.
These expanded, amorphous-locked materials have permeabilities to gases, and to liquids in some cases, which are much higher than the corresponding permeabilities of conventional molded or extruded poly(tetrafluoroethylene). The permeability to nitrogen of conventional poly(tetrafluoroethylene) film is reported in The Journal of Teflon, Jan.-Feb. 1970 (du Pont) at page 10 to be about 1×10-10 metric units.
In comparison, expanded, amorphous-locked films of this invention have permeabilities to nitrogen from about 1×10-8 to 1×10-1 metric units. These higher permeabilities are consistent with the lower densities and higher porosities of the expanded, amorphous-locked films, compared with conventional films. Furthermore, by controlling the degree of expansion and the amorphous-locking conditions used, it is possible to make tetrafluoroethylene polymeric materials having any desired permeability within the range listed above. These permeability differences are due primarily to differences in pore sizes within the materials.
Also, permeabilities to liquids of the expanded, amorphous-locked materials described herein are higher, in an analogous way, than corresponding permeabilities to liquids of the conventional materials.
As a result of the ability of the expanded, amorphous-locked materials described herein to transmit fluids are described, these materials are useful as filtering membranes to separate solid materials from gases and from liquids. For optimum filtering rates, relatively low-permeability, small-pore size membranes are used to filter out small solid particles, and high-permeability, large-pore size membranes are used to filter out large solid particles.
Also, the expanded, amorphous-locked materials described herein are useful as semi-permeable membranes for separating wetting fluids from non-wetting fluids. For example, a gas-saturated membrane in contact with water and gas will transmit the gas, the wetting phase, as described above. But it will not transmit the water, the non-wetting phase, as long as the pressure in the water phase does not exceed the water entry pressure for that particular combination of membrane and fluids.
One factor which influences entry pressure of a non-wetting fluid into a porous material is the size of the pores. Since the size of the pores in the expanded, amorphous-locked materials described here can be and are controlled by the conditions used in the expanding and amorphous-locking operations, these materials are very useful, under a wide variety of conditions, as semi-permeable membranes.
The usefulness of the materials covered by this invention as filtering membranes for separating solids from fluids or as semi-permeable membranes for separating immiscible fluids from each other is enhanced by the following well-known highly desirable properties of tetrafluoroethylene polymeric materials: (1) outstanding chemical inertness and (2) resistance to undesirable physical changes over a wide temperature range.
The expanded, amorphous-locked material of this invention can be bonded to other materials and to itself much more readily than conventional poly(tetrafluoroethylene) products can. This is true because bonding agents are able to penetrate a significant distance into the pore network of expanded, amorphous-locked material, and, after hardening, they become locked in place. In contrast, there is negligible penetration of bonding agents into conventional tetrafluoroethylene polymers, and this, coupled with the general non-bonding nature of low energy surfaces make bonding difficult.
Certain other properties of expanded, amorphous-locked poly(tetrafluoroethylene) materials are better than the corresponding properties of conventional extruded or molded poly(tetrafluoroethylene) products, making the former materials more useful in many applications than the latter. The thermal conductivity of molded conventional poly(tetrafluoroethylene) is about 1.7 Btu/hr/sq.ft./°F./in. while that of the expanded, amorphous-locked polymer ranges from about one-tenth to about one-half that value. In line with this, the more highly expanded materials of this invention have proven to be useful thermal insulators.
Similarly, expanded, amorphous-locked poly(tetrafluoroethylene) has shown an advantage over the conventional homopolymer as an electrical insulator in coaxial cables. The lower dielectric constant of the former, about 1.2 to 1.8, as compared with 2.2 for conventional polymer, permits smaller and lighter cables to be constructed by using the former. Many applications in which weight-saving (i.e. use of low density material) is an advantage can benefit by using the expanded, amorphous-locked polymers described herein in preference to conventional high density tetrafluoroethylene polymers.
This invention will be further understood by reference to the examples given below and to the drawings, all of which are given for illustrative purposes only and are not limitative, the drawings being:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a section of an expanded, amorphously locked tetrafluoroethylene polymer as seen under a microscope; and
FIG. 2 is a diagrammatical view of an apparatus that may be used in the process of this invention to produce the expanded, amorphously-locked structures.
As shown in FIG. 1, the expanded, amorphously locked, porous material 10 of this invention comprises a large plurality of nodes 11 which are oriented perpendicularly to the direction in which the expansion was effected. These nodes, on the average about 50 microns in size and fairly irregular in shape, lie closely together and in many instances appear to touch at points. A given node is connected to adjacent or nearby nodes by fibrils 12 which vary in length from 5 to 500 microns depending upon the amount of expansion. While FIG. 1 shows a uniaxial expansion effect, it will be appreciated that with expansion biaxially and with expansion in all directions, similar fibril formation occurs in said directions with the production of spider-web-like or cross-linked configurations and attendant increases in strength. The porosity also increases as the voids or spaces between the polymeric nodes and fibrils become more numerous and larger in size.
The apparatus shown in FIG. 2 is described below in Example 5.
EXAMPLE 1 Expansion of Rods
A cylindrical rod of 5/32 inch diameter was made by extruding a paste of "Teflon" 6A resin containing 130 cc/lb. of mineral spirits as an extrusion aid, at a reduction ratio of 370 (the resin being obtainable from E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc.). The volatile extrusion aid was removed by drying, the resultant rod having a specific gravity of 1.63, a tensile strength of 531 psi, and an elongation of 183% (A.S.T.M. test method). The amorphous content of the "Teflon" 6A resin and the unsintered rod were determined using the infra-red method described by Moynihan, R. E. "IR Studies on Polytetrafluoroethylene", J. Am. Chem. Soc. 81, 1045-1050 (1959), and found to be 1.5%.
An apparatus was devised so that samples of the rod could be stretched various amounts at controlled rates and controlled temperatures. The apparatus consisted of two clamps for holding the rod, one clamp being held fixed within an oven while the other clamp was attached to a wire leading outside the oven to a rack-and-pinion pulling device driven by a variable speed motor. After the sample had been expanded by stretching at the given controlled temperature, the oven temperature was raised to 370° C. for ten minutes while the samples were held clamped in their extended condition. In some cases the samples broke during the expansion step and this is noted in tables below. The term "broke" refers to the fact that the particular sample being tested broke under the conditions given as an attempt was being made to stretch it to the final elongation given; the precise percentage of elongation at which the given sample broke is not given.
As can be seen in Table 1A, all samples were successfully expanded to a porosity of about 68% under the conditions of temperature and rate of stretch shown. Table 1B shows that samples at the lower values of temperature and rate could not be expanded by stretching 550%, while the rest of the samples were successfully expanded to a porosity of about 84%. Table 1C shows that only two samples were successfully expanded when the stretch was 1500%. These samples were obtained at the highest values of rate and temperature and had a porosity of about 96%.
TABLES 1A, 1B and 1C______________________________________Table 1A: Percent Stretch = 200Temp- Rate of Rate of Rate of Rate oferature Stretch Stretch Stretch Stretch°F. 30%/sec. 100%/sec. 1000%/sec. 5000%/sec.______________________________________200 67% 67% porosity 67% porosity 66% porosity porosity400 66% 68% porosity 67% porosity 66% porosity porosity600 66% 66% porosity 67% porosity 68% porosity porosityTable 1B: Percent Stretch = 550Temp- Rate of Rate of Rate of Rate oferature Stretch Stretch Stretch Stretch°F. 30%/sec. 100%/sec. 1000%/sec. 5000%/sec.______________________________________200 broke broke broke broke400 broke 84% porosity 85% porosity 85% porosity600 broke 84% porosity 84% porosity 83% porosityTable 1C: Percent Stretch = 1500Temp- Rate of Rate of Rate of Rate oferature Stretch Stretch Stretch Stretch°F. 30%/sec. 100%/sec. 1000%/sec. 5000%/sec.______________________________________200 broke broke broke broke400 broke broke broke broke600 broke broke 96% porosity 96% porosity______________________________________
This example illustrates that the most highly expanded products of this invention are obtained when the expansion is carried out at high temperatures and high rates of stretch. The amorphous content of these rods was found to be 24%.
EXAMPLE 2 Expansion of Rods
Rods 5/32 inch in diameter were manufactured under conditions similar to Example 1, except that "Teflon" 6C resin was used, this also being obtainable from said du Pont company. The amorphous content of the "Teflon" 6C resin and the unsintered rod were found to be 3%. While effective expansion was not obtained under the conditions of Example 1, at very much higher rates of expansion, expansion within this invention did occur:
TABLE 2______________________________________Percent Stretch = 550Temperature Rate of Stretch Rate of Stretch Rate of Stretch°F. 5,000%/sec. 10,000%/sec. 40,000%/sec.______________________________________200 broke broke broke400 broke broke 68% porosity600 broke broke 68% porosity______________________________________
Amorphously locking the porous products obtained applying the 40,000%/sec. rate of expansion was effected and the microstructures of the products conformed to such as shown in FIG. 1. The amorphous content after heat treatment at 370° C. was 35%.
EXAMPLE 3 Expansion of Films
The following experiments were performed using a pantograph, which is a machine capable of stretching films biaxially or uniaxially over a range of rates and temperatures. The pantograph used in these experiments was capable of stretching 4"×4" samples of film to 16"×16". The 4"×4" film was gripped on each side by 13 actuated clamps, which moved apart uniformly on a scissor mechanism. The film was heated by hot air flow above and below.
A sample of film 6 inches wide, 0.036 inch thick, and of continuous length was produced by the paste extrusion process from "Teflon" 6A poly(tetrafluoroethylene) using 105 cc of mineral spirits per pound of resin as an extrusion aid. After removing the extrusion aid by drying, the unsintered film was found to have the following properties: specific gravity of 1.65, longitudinal tensile strength of 300 psi and transverse tensile strength of 250 psi.
Ex. 3(a): A 4" by 4" sample of this film was conditioned for approximately 4 minutes at 225° C. in the pantograph and then stretched biaxially at a rate of 500%/sec. in each direction to a size of 16"×16". The temperature of the film was then raised to 370° C. for 5 minutes while held clamped in the extended condition. The film was then cooled to ambient temperature and the following properties were found: specific gravity of 0.15, longitudinal tensile strength of 2,500 psi (a matrix tensile strength of 36,700 psi) and transverse tensile strength of 2,230 psi.
Ex. 3(b): A sample was prepared in all ways similar to Example 3(a) except that it was stretched in the pantograph at the lower rate of 55%/sec. The resulting film was still cohesive but was found to have weak areas, and a non-uniform appearance.
Ex. 3(c): A sample was prepared in all ways similar to Example 3(a) except that it was stretched at the even lower rate of 5%/sec. The film did not expand, but ruptured.
Ex. 3(d): A sample was prepared in all ways similar to Example 3(a) except that the temperature during expansion was 50° C. This film did not expand, but ruptured.
Ex. 3(e): A sample of paste-extruded film was taken before removal of the extrusion aid and calendered to a thickness of 0.0043 inch. The physical properties of the film were measured: specific gravity of 1.60; longitudinal tensile strength of 2,200 psi, and transverse tensile strength of 270 psi.
Samples of this film were stretch on the pantograph. The results are summarized in Table 3.
TABLE 3__________________________________________________________________________Example 3(e) Expansion Rate Expansion Rate In Longitudinal In TransverseTemperature Direction Direction°C. (%/sec.) (%/sec.) Result__________________________________________________________________________225 500 500 Ruptured225 500 0 Long. Tensile = 3900 psi (a matrix tensile strength of 12,800 psi) Trans. Tensile = 1150 psi Spec. Gravity = 0.70225 0 500 Ruptured50 500 500 Ruptured50 500 0 Ruptured50 0 500 Long. Tensile = 2400 psi (a matrix tensile strength of 7,360 psi) Trans. Tensile = 2700 psi Spec. Gravity + 0.75225 5 5 Ruptured225 5 0 Ruptured225 0 5 Ruptured50 5 5 Ruptured50 5 0 Ruptured50 0 5 Ruptured__________________________________________________________________________
From the tabulated results, it can be seen that the film responded differently depending on which axis was stretched but that at the low rates rupture occurred irrespective of the direction of expansion.
EXAMPLE 3(f) Expanded Films Made By Biaxial Stretching
Another 4"×4" sample of film of the type described in the second paragraph of Example 3 above was stretched in the pantograph machine. In this case, the film was stretched simultaneously in two directions at right angles to each other, 100% in each direction. Thus, the surface area of the stretched film was four times the surface area of the original film.
The film temperature was about 300° C. during the stretching operation. Linear stretching rates of about 400% per second in each dimension were used.
With the expanded film still in tension (stretcher clamps still holding the stretched film), hot air was circulated over the film such that the film temperature was about 360° C. for five minutes. This caused amorphous locking within the film.
Finally, with the stretcher clamps still holding the film, the film was cooled rapidly to room temperature by blowing cold air against it. The cooled film, which was then removed from the clamps, was the desired expanded, amorphous-locked film.
Properties of the original unexpanded film and of the final expanded, amorphous-locked film, which show the advantage of this invention, are listed below.
TABLE 4______________________________________ Original Expanded Unexpanded Amorphous-Property Film Locked Film______________________________________Film Length, relative units 1 1.9Film Width, relative units 1 2.0Film Thickness, mils 36.0 31.5Specific Gravity 1.65 0.45Long. Tensile Strength, psi 300 1900 (matrix tensile strength of 9,290 psi)Transverse Tensile Strength, psi 250 1760Permeability to air, metric units 4 × 105 6 × 103______________________________________
EXAMPLE 4 Expansion of Filled Films
The "Teflon" 6A resin, identified above, was blended with a commercially available asbestos powder in proportion of four parts by weight resin to one part asbestos. The mixture was lubricated with 115 cc of odorless mineral spirits per pound of mixture and extruded into a film 6" wide, 0.036" thick, and of continuous length. The film was then calendered to 0.008" thickness and the extrusion aid removed by drying. The properties were measured and found to be as follows: specific gravity of 1.44, longitudinal tensile strength of 1,000 psi; and transverse tensile strength of 205 psi.
A 4"×4" sample was mounted in the pantograph described above and stretched at a rate of 500%/sec. at a temperature of 225° C. and to three times its original length in the longitudinal direction while no stretch was applied in the transverse direction. A sample of the film was tested and found to have the following properties: specific gravity of 0.82, longitudinal tensile strength of 1500 psi, and transverse tensile strength of 145 psi. The remainder of the sample was placed in clamps to restrain it from shrinking, heated to 370° C. for five minutes, and then cooled to room temperature. The following properties were measured on this sample: specific gravity of 0.95, longitudinal tensile strength of 2,900 psi, and transverse tensile strength of 750 psi.
The heat treating of the film substantially increased its tensile strength as can be seen from the above values, and had a very little effect on specific gravity.
EXAMPLE 5 Manufacture of Continuous Lengths of Porous Film
A machine was constructed for manufacturing long lengths of expanded film. As can be seen in FIG. 2, unsintered film 13 from the paste extrusion process is fed to the machine from roll 14 onto heated roll 15 where the film is preheated to the temperature at which it will be expanded. Rolls 15 and 16 are of the same diameter and are connected through a gear box so their relative rates of rotation can be changed. Roll 16 can be driven faster than roll 15 so that the film is stretched in the gap "A" between the rolls making the film expand. The difference in speed determines the amount of stretch and thus the amount of expansion. For example, when roll 16 is driven twice as fast as roll 15, the film is expanded approximately 100% because, unlike other films, the unsintered poly(tetrafluoroethylene) film changes very little in thickness or width and the length increases by 100%. The increase in volume is due to an increase of porosity and a corresponding decrease of specific gravity. The relative positions of rolls 15 and 16 are adjustable so that the gap "A" between them can be varied. This allows one to control the rate of expansion. For example, when the gap distance is halved, the rate of expansion is doubled. It should be noted that the rate of expansion is also affected by the rate at which film is fed into the machine. Roll 16 is maintained at the same temperature as roll 15. Expanded film leaves roll 16 and goes onto roll 17 (running at the same peripheral speed) which is hot, and where the film is heated to approximately 370° C. so that amorphous locking will occur. The residence time of film on this roll is controlled by the position of roll 18, which can be moved around the periphery of roll 17. Roll 19 is water cooled to reduce the temperature of the film as it passes thereover before being wound up on roll 20. Thus, with this machine one is able to control the three important variables necessary for expanding tetrafluoroethylene polymer film, i.e. the temperature, the rate of expansion, and the amount of expansion.
Three runs on this apparatus are given in Table 5.
TABLE 5__________________________________________________________________________ "Fluon" CD-1 (obtainable "Teflon" 6A preheated from Imperial Chemical 3 hrs. at 300° C. priorResin: Industries, Ltd.) "Teflon" 6A to paste extrusion__________________________________________________________________________Properties of starting film:Thickness of Film 0.0050" 0.0050" 0.0050"Density, gm/cm3 1.47 1.52 1.54Longitudinal tensile, psi 1600 1900 2650Transverse tensile, psi 200 250 350Processing conditions:Tape feed rates: roll 14 to roll 15 30 ft./min. 30 ft./min. 30 ft./min.Temp., Rolls 15 and 16 300° C. 300° C. 300° C.Roll speed ratio: roll 15:roll 16 1:2.87 1:2.87 1:2.87Temp. for roll 17 370° C. 370° C. 370° C.Dwell time on roll 17 3 sec. 3 sec. 3 sec.Properties of Final Film:Thickness 0.0047" 0.0048" 0.0046"Density, gm/cm3 0.66 0.67 0.73Long, Tensile, psi 2850 (matrix 4000 (matrix 8950 (matrix tensile strength tensile strength tensile strength of 9,500 psi) of 13,100 psi) of 27,000 psi)Transverse tensile, psi 850 1050 1300__________________________________________________________________________
EXAMPLE 6 Expanded, Amorphously Locked, Laminated Film Made From Two Layers of Expanded Film
Using the tape expanding machine illustrated in FIG. 2 but with the amorphous-locking roll 17 set at 300° C., a temperature below amorphous-locking temperature, a sample of expanded, "Teflon" 6A poly(tetrafluoroethylene) film was made. This film had a specific gravity of 0.60 longitudinal tensile strength of 1900 psi (a matrix tensile strength of 7,300 psi), transverse tensile strength of 110 psi, and a thickness of 3.5 mils.
Two sections of this film at right angles to each other and one on top of the other, were clamped to a rigid frame which secured all four edges of the sandwich and pushed one film lightly against the other over the whole area of contact. This assembly was given an amorphous-locking treatment by heating it at about 370° C. for 7 minutes. Then the whole assembly was rapidly cooled with a stream of cold air, and clamps were released yielding the desired one-piece laminated film.
The tensile strength of the expanded, amorphous-locked laminate was 4300 psi in each direction. Its thickness was 6.4 mils.
EXAMPLE 7 Expanded, Amorphous-Locked Film As A Filtering Membrane Or A Semi-Permeable Membrane
An extruded, calendered, unsintered "Teflon" 6A poly(tetrafluoroethylene) film was made using the known conventional procedure described above. This film was expanded and amorphously locked using the machine of FIG. 2 and the process of this invention described herein. Expansion was carried out at a temperature of about 300° C., and amorphous locking at about 370° C. Properties of the original film and the expanded, amorphous-locked film are listed below:
TABLE 9______________________________________ Original Unexpanded, ExpandedProperty Unsintered Film Sintered Film______________________________________Thickness, mils 4.0 3.5Surface area*, relative units 1.0 2.8Specific Gravity 1.46 0.60Permeability to air, metric units 1.0 × 10-4 0.032Permeability to kerosene, metric units 7.0 × 10-7 2.3 × 10-4______________________________________ *Length × width
Smoke-containing air was filtered through a sample of the expanded, amorphous-locked film described above. It was observed that the filtered air was clean, and the filtering rate was relatively high. A similar effort to filter smoke-containing air using a sample of the unexpanded, unsintered film described above was unsuccessful because the filtering rate was too low.
Similarly, samples of the expanded, amorphous-locked film described above were used to filter solids from suspensions of the solids in various organic liquids. Again, good separations were obtained, and filtering rates were reasonably high. However, similar attempts using samples of the unexpanded, unsintered film described above again were unsuccessful because of extremely low filtering rates.
When an effort was made to flow water through the (air-saturated) expanded, amorphous-locked film described above using 5 psi flowing pressure, no flow occurred. However, when the applied flowing pressure exceeded 10 psi, the water entry pressure of the gas-saturated membrane, flow started, and thereafter flow of water through the membrane was quite similar to the flow of wetting organic liquids. This membrane was found to be useful in separating solids from dispersions of the solids in water.
A sample of the expanded, amorphous-locked film described above was fitted into the cone of a filtering funnel, and a mixture of kerosene and water was poured into the funnel. The kerosene flowed through the film at a reasonably rapid rate, but no water penetrated the film since the pressure in the water phase was lower than the water entry pressure into either the gas-saturated or the kerosene-saturated film. Thus, the expanded, amorphously locked film was found to be an effective semi-permeable membrane useful in separating fluids that wet tetrafluoroethylene polymers from non-wetting fluids. Similar attempts to use the unexpanded, unsintered film described above as a semi-permeable membrane were unsuccessful because of the extremely low flow rates involved.
EXAMPLE 8 Expanded, Amorphously Locked Film Impregnated With Poly(Methyl Methacrylate)
A part of the expanded, amorphous-locked film prepared as described in Example 7 was painted with a freshly made solution of 1% of polymerization initiator 2,2'azo-bis (2-methylpropionitrile) in methyl methacrylate). The solution was rapidly imbibed into the expanded, amorphously locked film. Any excess solution not so imbibed was wiped from the surface of the film.
Then the impregnated film was warmed, causing the methyl methacrylate to polymerize within the pores of the expanded, amorphous-locked film, thus yielding a film having pores filled with poly(methyl methacrylate).
The comparison shown below of the properties of conventional extruded, calendered, unsintered poly(tetrafluoroethylene) film with those of the expanded, amorphous-locked, film impregnated with the methacrylate polymer shows clearly the greater dimensional stability of the impregnated film without significant increase in the coefficient of friction. These properties make impregnated materials of the type described here particularly useful as bearing materials. The substantially lower cost of the impregnated material, as compared with the conventional homopolymer or copolymers, is a further benefit of this invention.
TABLE 10A______________________________________ Expanded, Conventional Amorphous- Unexpanded, Locked,Property Unsintered Film Impregnated Film______________________________________Deformation, 150 psi Compressive Stress at 77° F., % 2.7 0.7Coefficient of Friction against Glass 0.20 0.21______________________________________
In further impregnation experiments, a piece of expanded, amorphous-locked poly(tetrafluoroethylene) film made as described in Example 10 was impregnated with a low viscosity epoxy resin, ERLA 2256, a product of and obtainable from Union Carbide Corporation. A second piece of the film was impregnated with a solution of metaphenylenediamine in methyl ethyl ketone. When the ketone had evaporated, the two pieces, with the longitudinal dimension of one coinciding with the transverse dimension of the other, were placed in contact with each other, and the assembly was heated at about 300° F. for about three hours.
The two pieces were firmly bonded by the hardened epoxy resin. Properties of the laminate were as follows:
TABLE 10B______________________________________ Expanded, Amorphous-Property Locked Film Laminate______________________________________Longitudinal tensile strength, psi 8,100 8,800Transverse tensile strength, psi 1,500 8,800Deformation, 100 psi Compressive Stress at 77° F., % 13 1.2Coefficient of Friction Against Glass 0.14 0.14______________________________________
EXAMPLE 9 Use Of Expanded, Amorphous-Locked Tape As Core Of A Coaxial Cable
Expanded, amorphous-locked tape was made following the procedure described in Example 7. Two such tapes were made, both having a specific gravity of about 0.66, one having a thickness of 2.5 mils, the other, 10 mils. Alternate wraps of (1) the thinner tape, (2) the thicker tape, and (3) the thinner tape were used to make up a core separating the inner conductor of the coaxial cable from an outer metallic braided shield. An outer jacket constructed of conventional poly(tetrafluoroethylene) covered the shield. The characteristic impedance of the cable was 100 ohms.
A second coaxial cable having an impedance of 100 ohms was constructed, in this case using conventional, unexpanded tape to construct the core. After sintering, the density of the poly(tetrafluoroethylene) core was about 2.15 gms/cc.
Because of the lower dielectric constant of expanded, amorphous-locked poly(tetrafluoroethylene) over that of the conventional polymer, a smaller, lighter cable was obtained when expanded, amorphous-locked tape was used. This is shown in detail in the following table.
TABLE 11______________________________________ A B 100 Ohm 100 Ohm Impedance Impedance Cable Cable Made Using Made Using A A Core Of Core Of Expanded, Conventional Amorphously LockedItem Polymer Polymer______________________________________Conductor Weight, g/ft 0.064 0.064Polymer Insulation, g/ft 3.890 0.464Braided Metal Shield, g/ft 2.700 1.898Polymer Jacket, g/ft 0.855 0.569Core Diameter, in. 0.110 0.065Outer Diameter of Cable, Inch. 0.140 0.095Total Cable Weight, g/ft 7.509 2.995______________________________________
The data listed above show that the use of expanded, amorphous-locked polymer in B rather than conventional polymer in A as the core in this cable led to a 60% reduction in weight and a 32% reduction in size of the cable.
EXAMPLE 10 Films Which Are Very Greatly Expanded And Then Amorphous-Locked
Unsintered, extruded, calendered poly(tetrafluoroethylene) film was made using the known conventional procedure described in earlier examples. This film had a thickness of 4.0 mils.
Using the apparatus of FIG. 2 and above procedures, parts of this film were expanded without amorphous-locking using a step-wise procedure. The machine was set at 190% expansion for each of the expansion runs. Then samples of the expanded films were passed through the machine to lock them amorphously at 370° C. without further expansion. The steps followed in this work are explained in the following diagram: ##STR1##
Properties of the films produced as described above are listed below:
TABLE 12______________________________________Film Expansion, Thickness, SpecificIdentity % mils gravity______________________________________Original film none 4.0 1.50Product 1 190 3.8 0.50Product 2 190 × 2 3.8 0.27Product 3 190 × 3 3.1 0.18Product 4 190 × 4 2.8 0.17 Bulk Long, tensileFilm Porosity Long. Tensile strength of polymericIdentity % Strength, psi matrix, psi______________________________________Original film 35 1,640 2,600Product 1 78 2,900 14,000Product 2 88 2,420 30,000Product 3 92 2,400 30,000Product 4 93 2,400 34,000______________________________________
"Teflon" 6A polymer was heated for 3 hours at 300° C., cooled, blended with 80 cc of refined kerosene per pound of polymer, and extruded into a film 6 inches wide, 0.030 inch thick, using a reduction ratio of about 100 (reduction ratio=cross-section area of extrusion cylinder divided by the cross-section of the extrudate). The extruded film was then passed through successive sets of rolls, each heated to about 80° C., and reduced in thickness from 0.030" to 0.002". This film was dried to remove the kerosene and passed through the apparatus of FIG. 2 at a rate of 100 ft./min. over roll 15, with rolls 15 and 16 heated to 320° C. and adjusted with their outer peripheries as close together as possible without crushing the 0.002" film between them. Roll 16 (and 17, 18, 19) was rotated at a peripheral speed seven times greater than roll 15, thus stretching the film about sevenfold. The film was passed over roll 17 at 370° C. and wound up on take-up 20. Rolls 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 were then adjusted to the same peripheral speed of 30 ft./min., rolls 15, 16 and 17 adjusted to 370° C., and the stretched film passed through the apparatus under these conditions in order to accomplish an adequate heat treating. The properties of the film were as follows:
______________________________________Thickness .0019"Density gm/cm3 .23Longitudinal tensile psi 12,200Longitudinal tensile ofpolymer material ##STR2##______________________________________
EXAMPLE 12 Amorphous Content of Polymer
A sample of film was prepared as in Example 11 except that it was rolled to a thickness of 0.004". This film was then expanded using the same process as in Example 5 except that roll 17 was not heated. Heat treatments were carried out on samples of this film at 335° C., 350° C., and 390° C. for various lengths of time. The amorphous content of the polymer was determined at each stage in the process using the infra-red method described by Moynihan, R. E. "IR Studies on Polytetrafluoroethylene", J. Am. Chem. Soc. 81, 1045-1050 (1959). The properties of the films were as follows:
TABLE 13______________________________________ Matrix Longitudinal Tensile Strength Tensile % Density Strength Amorphous gm/cm3______________________________________"Teflon" 6A powder, heattreated 1.5%Extruded, dried .004" film 2650 1.5% 1.5Expanded not heat-treated 4200/14,200 1.5% .68Heated to 335° C.:1 second 5580/18,500 2.5% .6910 seconds 5630/18,400 3% .7050 seconds 6020/19,700 4% .70480 seconds 7540/24,600 5% .70Heated to 350° C.:1 second 7630/24,700 10% .703 seconds 7670/24,900 10% .7010 seconds 7820/25,200 .15% .7020 seconds 7830/24,900 25% .7050 seconds 8360/26,400 30% .70100 seconds 8610/27,100 33% .70480 seconds 8900/27,900 35% .70Heated to 390° C.:1 second 7500/23,500 25% .713 seconds 7960/23,900 35% .7310 seconds 7830/23,400 38% .7320 seconds 7270/20,300 40% .7850 seconds 6560/16,800 40% .8590 seconds disintegrated______________________________________
EXAMPLE 13 High Strength, Low Porosity Films
A sample of expanded but not heat-treated film from Example 12 was placed in a platen press, compressed at 300 psi and white held compressed, the platens were heated to 350° C. and then cooled rapidly. The longitudinal tensile strength of the resulting film was 24,000 psi and the density 2.10 gms/cm3, about 3% porosity. Therefore, it is possible to produce very high strength, high density products by compressing the expanded material during the amorphous-locking step. The fibril-node structure is preserved even though the porosity is reduced to about 3%. With higher pressures it is possible to further reduce the porosity and still preserve the very high strength of the material.
A second sample of the expanded film from Example 12 which had been heat treated at 350° C. for 8 minutes was placed in the press at room temperature and compressed at 1500 psi for several minutes. The film was clear and transparent. Its density was 2.05 gms/cm3 and longitudinal tensile strength was 21,000 psi. Therefore, it is feasible to compress the porous structure of the product and still preserve the high strength of the bulk polymer.
The foregoing examples clearly show the desirable effect of expansion and amorphous-locking on the tensile strength and density characteristics of the products, and also that the high tensile strength is retained when the porous structure is compressed.
The formation of the porous material by this invention can be accomplished using poly(tetrafluoroethylene) or copolymers of tetrafluoroethylene with other monomers. Such monomers are ethylene, chlorotrifluoroethylene, or fluorinated propylenes, such as hexafluoropropylene. These monomers are used only in very small amounts since it is preferred to use the homopolymer for the reason that it presents the optimum crystalline/amorphous structure for the process and the products of this invention. Thus, amounts of the comonomers are generally less than 0.2% and it is highly preferred to use poly(tetrafluoroethylene). While the above examples show the use of asbestos as a filler, it is to be appreciated that a wide variety of fillers can be incorporated such as carbon black, pigments of various kinds as well as inorganic materials such as mica, silica, titanium dioxide, glass, potassium titanate, and the like. Further, fluids may be used which include dielectric fluids or materials such as the polysiloxane materials shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,278,673.
While the invention has been disclosed herein in connection with certain embodiments and certain structural and procedural details, it is clear that changes, modifications or equivalents can be used by those skilled in the art; accordingly, such changes within the principles of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the claims below.
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|US4978590 *||Sep 11, 1989||Dec 18, 1990||The United States Of America As Represented By The Department Of Energy||Dry compliant seal for phosphoric acid fuel cell|
|US5019140 *||Dec 21, 1988||May 28, 1991||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Irradiated expanded polytetrafluoroethylene composites, and devices using them, and processes for making them|
|US5022096 *||Jan 18, 1990||Jun 11, 1991||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Waterproof breathable wader|
|US5026513 *||May 22, 1989||Jun 25, 1991||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Process for making rapidly recoverable PTFE|
|US5026591 *||Apr 14, 1989||Jun 25, 1991||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Microporous matrix filled with thermo(plastic or setting) resin|
|US5032445 *||Apr 5, 1989||Jul 16, 1991||W. L. Gore & Associates||Methods and articles for treating periodontal disease and bone defects|
|US5040717 *||Mar 27, 1990||Aug 20, 1991||Metcal, Inc.||For terminating closely spaced conductors|
|US5061561 *||Jul 21, 1989||Oct 29, 1991||Asahi Kasei Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha||Tensile strength, elasticity, chemical resistance; woven fabri cs, knits, ropes|
|US5066285 *||Jan 26, 1990||Nov 19, 1991||Cordis Corporation||Catheter introducer sheath made of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene|
|US5066683 *||May 1, 1990||Nov 19, 1991||Tetratec Corporation||Microporous waterproof and moisture vapor permeable structures, processes of manufacture and useful articles thereof|
|US5071609 *||Nov 3, 1988||Dec 10, 1991||Baxter International Inc.||Heating, expansion, curing and flash sintering; flexibility, durability, porous matrix|
|US5093179 *||May 7, 1991||Mar 3, 1992||Scantlebury Todd V||Polytetrafluoroethylene|
|US5096473 *||Mar 1, 1991||Mar 17, 1992||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Filtration fabric laminates|
|US5098625 *||Dec 17, 1990||Mar 24, 1992||Yeu Ming Tai Chemical Industrial Co., Ltd.||Process for forming an expanded porous tetrafluoroethylene polymer|
|US5100422 *||May 26, 1989||Mar 31, 1992||Impra, Inc.||Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene layer and nonporous elastomer coating for vascular patches|
|US5104400 *||Aug 28, 1991||Apr 14, 1992||Impra, Inc.||Coating outer wall of polytetrafluoroethylene tube with elastomer; drying; opening tube; cutting patch from flat sheet|
|US5108474 *||Jan 3, 1991||Apr 28, 1992||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Smoke filter|
|US5112664 *||Nov 30, 1990||May 12, 1992||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Shielded gasket assembly|
|US5126185 *||May 18, 1990||Jun 30, 1992||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Conductive shielding and sealing tape|
|US5148806 *||Dec 22, 1989||Sep 22, 1992||Yasuhiro Fukui||Electrode for use with a living body|
|US5152782 *||May 26, 1989||Oct 6, 1992||Impra, Inc.||Non-porous coated ptfe graft|
|US5178630 *||May 26, 1992||Jan 12, 1993||Meadox Medicals, Inc.||Ravel-resistant, self-supporting woven graft|
|US5190806 *||Jun 19, 1992||Mar 2, 1993||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Liquid-penetration-resistant sorbent laminate|
|US5208313 *||Jul 16, 1992||May 4, 1993||Surface Coatings, Inc.||Polyetherurethane copolymers for waterproof nonporous membranes|
|US5209251 *||Jul 11, 1991||May 11, 1993||Colgate-Palmolive Company||Dental floss|
|US5209967 *||Jan 31, 1992||May 11, 1993||Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company||Pressure sensitive membrane and method therefor|
|US5234525 *||Oct 29, 1992||Aug 10, 1993||Surface Coatings, Inc.||Waterproof breathable fabric laminates and method for producing same|
|US5234739 *||Jul 22, 1992||Aug 10, 1993||Daikin Industries Ltd.||Polytetrafluoroethylene porous film and preparation and use thereof|
|US5238732 *||Jan 11, 1993||Aug 24, 1993||Surface Coatings, Inc.||Coating with reaction product of polyisocyanate, polyalkylene ether glycols, and isocyanate reactive polydimethylsiloxane; curing|
|US5239036 *||Jan 11, 1993||Aug 24, 1993||Surface Coatings, Inc.||With poly-oxyethylene glycol,-oxyalkylene glycol, polyisocyanate and isocyanate-reactive hydroxyl-group containing polydimethylsiloxane|
|US5239037 *||Jan 11, 1993||Aug 24, 1993||Surface Coatings, Inc.||Waterproof breathable polyurethane membranes and porous substrates protected therewith|
|US5262096 *||Aug 3, 1992||Nov 16, 1993||Japan Gore-Tex, Inc.||Bubbling|
|US5273689 *||Jun 24, 1992||Dec 28, 1993||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Water-evaporation conduit for a humidifier|
|US5277176 *||Jun 29, 1992||Jan 11, 1994||Habashi Nader M||Extracorporeal lung assistance apparatus and process|
|US5281475 *||Oct 17, 1991||Jan 25, 1994||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Continuous polytetrafluoroethylene fibers|
|US5282846 *||Apr 29, 1992||Feb 1, 1994||Meadox Medicals, Inc.||Ravel-resistant, self-supporting woven vascular graft|
|US5282848 *||Apr 19, 1993||Feb 1, 1994||Meadox Medicals, Inc.||Self-supporting woven vascular graft|
|US5283112 *||Jul 26, 1993||Feb 1, 1994||Surface Coatings, Inc.||Non porous, water vapor transmissible polyurethane; used as rain protective garments|
|US5286924 *||Sep 22, 1992||Feb 15, 1994||Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company||Mass terminable cable|
|US5288552 *||Jan 8, 1993||Feb 22, 1994||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||From helically rolled self-adhered sheet of expanded porous polymer with coated exterior surface and single seam|
|US5296292 *||Sep 4, 1990||Mar 22, 1994||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Monofilament core surrounded by porous polytetrafluoroethylene for wear resistant fibers for fishing line|
|US5306869 *||Sep 22, 1992||Apr 26, 1994||Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company||Ribbon cable construction|
|US5308689 *||Feb 10, 1993||May 3, 1994||Junkosha Company, Ltd.||Snag-resistant composite fabric|
|US5321109 *||Nov 17, 1992||Jun 14, 1994||Impra, Inc.||Extrusion, securing edges with plurality of grippers, heating, expanding, stretching|
|US5328756 *||Jan 31, 1992||Jul 12, 1994||Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company||Polytetrafluoroethylene fibril matrix|
|US5366631 *||Feb 10, 1992||Nov 22, 1994||Pall Corporation||Composite, supported fluorocarbon media|
|US5368021 *||Apr 9, 1992||Nov 29, 1994||Criticare Systems, Inc.||System for handling and monitoring respiratory waste streams|
|US5374473 *||Aug 19, 1992||Dec 20, 1994||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Dense polytetrafluoroethylene articles|
|US5382364 *||Mar 17, 1993||Jan 17, 1995||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Reducing ethanol content of beverages|
|US5385580 *||Sep 21, 1992||Jan 31, 1995||Meadox Medicals, Inc.||Self-supporting woven vascular graft|
|US5389311 *||Nov 1, 1993||Feb 14, 1995||Hetzel; Henry T.||Atmometer covering and method|
|US5395568 *||Dec 3, 1993||Mar 7, 1995||The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy||Feedback-controlled oxygen regulation system for benthic flux chambers and method for maintaining a constant volume of oxygen therefor|
|US5401901 *||Sep 19, 1991||Mar 28, 1995||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Weather-resistant electromagnetic interference shielding for electronic equipment enclosures|
|US5403123 *||Jul 29, 1992||Apr 4, 1995||Walters; William D.||Gas impermeable, elastically deformable laminate and inflatable articles formed therefrom|
|US5403524 *||Mar 16, 1994||Apr 4, 1995||Buerger; Wolfgang||Porous polytetrafluoroethylene and a process for the production thereof|
|US5418023 *||Sep 23, 1991||May 23, 1995||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Metallized microporous polytetrafluoroethylene electromagnetic energy shielding gasketing|
|US5426128 *||Dec 1, 1994||Jun 20, 1995||Buerger; Wolfgang||Porous polytetrafluoroethylene and a process for the production thereof|
|US5433909 *||Mar 12, 1993||Jul 18, 1995||Atrium Medical Corporation||Method of making controlled porosity expanded polytetrafluoroethylene products|
|US5433996 *||Feb 18, 1993||Jul 18, 1995||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Laminated patch tissue repair sheet material|
|US5437900 *||Dec 1, 1993||Aug 1, 1995||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Using glow discharges|
|US5453235 *||Jan 29, 1993||Sep 26, 1995||Impra, Inc.||Method of forming dual porosity FTFE tubes by extrusion of concentric preforms|
|US5462781 *||May 2, 1994||Oct 31, 1995||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Surface modified porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene and process for making|
|US5466509 *||Jan 15, 1993||Nov 14, 1995||Impra, Inc.||Textured, porous, expanded PTFE|
|US5468138 *||Mar 29, 1994||Nov 21, 1995||Impra, Inc.||Apparatus for stretching polymer films|
|US5468531 *||May 18, 1994||Nov 21, 1995||Japan Gore-Tex, Inc.||Elastic fixing roll|
|US5470757 *||Jun 28, 1994||Nov 28, 1995||Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company||Spectroscopic sample holder and method for using same|
|US5474824 *||Jun 29, 1994||Dec 12, 1995||Atrium Medical Corporation||An implantable porous microstructure having a plurality of nodes interconnected by fibers, microchannels formed between internode spaces; a supports for tissue growth; bilateral stretching|
|US5478372 *||Feb 8, 1995||Dec 26, 1995||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Stretched, porous polytetrafluoroethylene membrane laminated to polyether ether ketone-coated metal mesh; air filters|
|US5480711 *||Jul 12, 1994||Jan 2, 1996||Ruefer; Bruce G.||Nano-porous PTFE biomaterial|
|US5482552 *||Mar 17, 1994||Jan 9, 1996||Japan Gore-Tex, Inc.||Liquid metering and coating device|
|US5486475 *||Feb 9, 1994||Jan 23, 1996||Kramer; Valentin||Membrane module to remove gaseous substances from a gas stream|
|US5487858 *||Jan 31, 1994||Jan 30, 1996||Meadox Medicals, Inc.||Process of making self-supporting woven vascular graft|
|US5488766 *||Oct 7, 1994||Feb 6, 1996||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Erecting panels comprising a flexible layer of electrically conductive material having at least one layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene material adhered to it|
|US5491882 *||Sep 13, 1994||Feb 20, 1996||Walston; D. Kenneth||Method of making joint prosthesis having PTFE cushion|
|US5496364 *||Jan 31, 1994||Mar 5, 1996||Meadox Medicals, Inc.||Self-supporting woven vascular graft|
|US5506047 *||Jul 13, 1993||Apr 9, 1996||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Electromagnetic interfernce shielding filter|
|US5509931 *||Jan 28, 1994||Apr 23, 1996||Meadox Medicals, Inc.||Ravel-resistant self-supporting woven vascular graft|
|US5512229 *||May 25, 1994||Apr 30, 1996||Impra, Inc.||Process of uniformly expanding polymer film|
|US5519172 *||Oct 11, 1994||May 21, 1996||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Expanded microporous polymeric matrix permeated and sealed by silicone polymer|
|US5524908 *||Sep 14, 1994||Jun 11, 1996||W. L. Gore & Associates||For shielding electrical components from electromagnetic interference|
|US5529823 *||Oct 5, 1994||Jun 25, 1996||Aumann; Johann||Waterproof connection devices for garments|
|US5529830 *||May 25, 1994||Jun 25, 1996||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Two-way stretchable fabric laminate and articles made from it|
|US5532037 *||Oct 5, 1994||Jul 2, 1996||Aumann; Johann||Waterproof collar connection device|
|US5534209 *||Mar 13, 1995||Jul 9, 1996||Japan Gore-Tex, Inc.||Method for manufacturing a liquid crystal polymer film and a liquid crystal polymer film made thereby|
|US5536290 *||Feb 17, 1995||Jul 16, 1996||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Pleated cartridge filter attachment for top loading filter assemblies|
|US5553608 *||Jul 20, 1994||Sep 10, 1996||Tecnol Medical Products, Inc.||For preventing liquids/aerosols from contacting the face of a person|
|US5565166 *||Apr 13, 1995||Oct 15, 1996||Witzko; Richard||Tube unit and process for its fabrication|
|US5569507 *||Feb 28, 1995||Oct 29, 1996||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Protective covers with virus impenetrable seams|
|US5575835 *||Aug 11, 1995||Nov 19, 1996||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Apparatus for removing moisture from an environment|
|US5584876 *||Apr 29, 1994||Dec 17, 1996||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Cell excluding sheath for vascular grafts|
|US5589350 *||Jan 11, 1996||Dec 31, 1996||Biolog, Inc.||Testing device for liquid and liquid suspended samples|
|US5593482 *||Apr 7, 1992||Jan 14, 1997||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Adsorbent assembly for removing gaseous contaminants|
|US5596450 *||Jan 6, 1995||Jan 21, 1997||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Light reflectant surface and method for making and using same|
|US5596814 *||Nov 6, 1995||Jan 28, 1997||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Vented vial stopper for processing freeze-dried products|
|US5609624 *||Oct 8, 1993||Mar 11, 1997||Impra, Inc.||Reinforced vascular graft and method of making same|
|US5614284 *||Apr 13, 1995||Mar 25, 1997||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Laminated patch tissue repair sheet material|
|US5620669 *||Aug 15, 1995||Apr 15, 1997||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Coherent catalytic filter material of multiple fibers of fibrillated polymer having catalytic particles attached to nodes and fibrils and sheet of microporous membrane mounted on one side, forming barrier isolating particles in fluid|
|US5620763 *||Mar 29, 1995||Apr 15, 1997||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Thin-wall, seamless, porous polytetrafluoroethylene tube|
|US5628127 *||Apr 11, 1995||May 13, 1997||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Waterproof shoe|
|US5636551 *||Dec 30, 1994||Jun 10, 1997||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Method of making a mechanical cable|
|US5641566 *||Dec 6, 1995||Jun 24, 1997||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Surgical repair patch; flexibility, biocompatibility|
|US5645915 *||Mar 29, 1996||Jul 8, 1997||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||High strength porous PTFE sheet material|
|US5647380 *||Jun 7, 1995||Jul 15, 1997||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Method of making a left ventricular assist device|
|US5653882 *||May 15, 1995||Aug 5, 1997||E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company||Asymmetric membranes of polytetrafluoroethylene and process for making them|
|US5681624 *||Feb 22, 1995||Oct 28, 1997||Japan Gore-Tex, Inc.||Liquid crystal polymer film and a method for manufacturing the same|
|US5689364 *||Dec 6, 1995||Nov 18, 1997||W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Light reflectant surface for photoinduction chambers|
|US5689903 *||Oct 18, 1995||Nov 25, 1997||Aumann; Johann||Protective waterproof shoe|
|US5692530 *||Sep 21, 1995||Dec 2, 1997||Anchor Advance Products, Inc.||Braided dental floss|
|US5693412 *||Jul 7, 1994||Dec 2, 1997||Walters; William D.||Products formed from the laminate can be repeatedly stretched and retract to accommodate substantial volume increases due to elastic deformation in response to elevated pressure|
|US5694925 *||Dec 12, 1995||Dec 9, 1997||Tecnol Medical Products, Inc.||Face mask with enhanced seal and method|
|US5699792 *||Oct 9, 1996||Dec 23, 1997||Tecnol Medical Products, Inc.||Face mask with enhanced facial seal|
|US5700287 *||Oct 29, 1996||Dec 23, 1997||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Prosthetic vascular graft with deflectably secured fibers|
|US5700544 *||Jun 14, 1995||Dec 23, 1997||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Laminate of layer of breathable and liquid resistant sheet material and at least one layer of fibrous material, seam joining laminates of adhesive that fully encapsulates fibers|
|US5702409 *||Jul 21, 1995||Dec 30, 1997||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Device and method for reinforcing surgical staples|
|US5704349 *||Oct 21, 1994||Jan 6, 1998||Tecnol Medical Products, Inc.||Surgical face mask with darkened glare-reducing strip and visor|
|US5711093 *||Oct 18, 1995||Jan 27, 1998||Aumann; Johann||Protective waterproof shoe|
|US5716395 *||Aug 27, 1996||Feb 10, 1998||W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Prosthetic vascular graft|
|US5716700 *||Oct 12, 1995||Feb 10, 1998||Japan Gore-Tex, Inc.||Elastic fixing roll|
|US5721283 *||Mar 20, 1995||Feb 24, 1998||E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company||Porous polytetrafluoroethylene and preparation|
|US5724964 *||Jul 6, 1995||Mar 10, 1998||Tecnol Medical Products, Inc.||Disposable face mask with enhanced fluid barrier|
|US5732480 *||Jan 14, 1997||Mar 31, 1998||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Water shoe|
|US5733308 *||Mar 5, 1997||Mar 31, 1998||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Surgical pledget dispensing system|
|US5737857 *||Mar 5, 1996||Apr 14, 1998||Aumann; Johann||Protective shoe|
|US5740551 *||Jun 10, 1996||Apr 21, 1998||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Multi-layered barrier glove|
|US5753358 *||Jan 25, 1996||May 19, 1998||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Adhisive-filler polymer film composite|
|US5758664 *||Jun 6, 1996||Jun 2, 1998||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Method of maintaining a left ventricular assist device|
|US5762600 *||Jun 18, 1996||Jun 9, 1998||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Blood contact surfaces employing natural subendothelial matrix and methods for making and using the same|
|US5764355 *||Jan 12, 1996||Jun 9, 1998||Gagnon; David R.||Method of spectroscopically analyzing a sample|
|US5765556 *||Jul 17, 1995||Jun 16, 1998||Tecnol Medical Products, Inc.||Disposable aerosol mask with face shield|
|US5766750 *||Feb 6, 1996||Jun 16, 1998||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Imbibing mixture of filler and adhesive resin into voids of an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene film; improved thermal, mechanical, electrical properties|
|US5772884 *||Jan 21, 1994||Jun 30, 1998||Daikin Industries, Ltd.||Air filters; semiconductor industry; stretching biaxially unsintered polymer at specific temperatures|
|US5776182 *||Dec 2, 1996||Jul 7, 1998||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Vascular prosthesis; reduce blood clots and immune response|
|US5779795 *||Aug 4, 1995||Jul 14, 1998||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Low surface energy fluid metering and coating device|
|US5781342 *||Nov 27, 1995||Jul 14, 1998||W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene|
|US5782152 *||Feb 24, 1997||Jul 21, 1998||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Vacuum fixture and method for dimensioning and manipulating materials|
|US5783086 *||Aug 21, 1996||Jul 21, 1998||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Filter for a wet/dry vacuum cleaner for wet material collection|
|US5800522 *||Jan 24, 1997||Sep 1, 1998||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Interior liner for tubes, pipes and blood conduits|
|US5800661 *||Feb 24, 1997||Sep 1, 1998||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Vacuum fixture and method for dimensioning and manipulating materials|
|US5800785 *||Jul 24, 1996||Sep 1, 1998||Biolog, Inc.||Testing device for liquid and liquid suspended samples|
|US5801319 *||Apr 2, 1996||Sep 1, 1998||W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Strings for musical instruments|
|US5804011 *||Jun 28, 1996||Sep 8, 1998||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Process of making a two-way stretchable fabric laminate and articles made from it|
|US5810855 *||Jul 11, 1997||Sep 22, 1998||Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.||Endoscopic device and method for reinforcing surgical staples|
|US5811167 *||Jan 25, 1996||Sep 22, 1998||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Packaged insulation and method of making same|
|US5814180 *||Aug 9, 1996||Sep 29, 1998||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Bonding an electrically conductive pressure sensitive adhesive material to a substrate|
|US5814405 *||Aug 1, 1996||Sep 29, 1998||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Microporous membranes with high strength|
|US5817359 *||Oct 11, 1996||Oct 6, 1998||Palassa Pty. Ltd.||Methods for dealcoholization employing perstration|
|US5824223 *||Nov 8, 1995||Oct 20, 1998||Rentiers Machinery Proprietary Ltd.||Methods and apparatus for osmotic distillation|
|US5836677 *||Feb 5, 1997||Nov 17, 1998||W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Retrofit compact fluorescent lamp|
|US5838406 *||Aug 29, 1995||Nov 17, 1998||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Light reflectant surface of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene with nodes and fibrils for backlit liquid crystal displays|
|US5840775 *||Mar 4, 1997||Nov 24, 1998||E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company||Contacting with a fluid which penetrates and swells but does not dissolve or eliminate viscoelastic memory; cooling; removing absorbed fluid|
|US5843390 *||Jan 21, 1997||Dec 1, 1998||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Method of using a catalytic filter|
|US5846355 *||Mar 22, 1996||Dec 8, 1998||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Jacket material for protection of electrical conductors|
|US5858505 *||Dec 4, 1996||Jan 12, 1999||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Macroscopically perforated porous polytetrafluoroethylene materials|
|US5861033 *||Jan 30, 1997||Jan 19, 1999||Atrium Medical Corporation||Implantable prosthesis tube of porous ptfe including a tube wall with a porous microstructure of nodes and fibrils, with tapered channels between nodes, wall is uniformly sintered; fibrils impede leakage while allowing cellular growth|
|US5863488 *||Sep 19, 1996||Jan 26, 1999||Japan Gore-Tex Inc.||Vacuum molding, blow molding thin walled complex shaped articles; outer polytetrafluoroethylene region|
|US5863608 *||Dec 16, 1992||Jan 26, 1999||Sheldahl, Inc.||Vacuum depositing a fluorinated ethylene-cyclooxyaliphatic substituted ethylenic copolymer with glass transition temperature 160 to 240 degree c., applying second coating over first of same polymer which is in castable liquid state|
|US5869156 *||May 6, 1997||Feb 9, 1999||Donaldson Company, Inc.||Air filter; perfluoroether fluid in the material has a microstructure containing nodes connected by fibrils; chemical resistance, waterproofing and dielectric|
|US5870937 *||Feb 24, 1997||Feb 16, 1999||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||For dimensioning an electrically conductive gasket material|
|US5873906 *||Jul 21, 1997||Feb 23, 1999||Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.||Procedures for introducing stents and stent-grafts|
|US5876432 *||Mar 28, 1995||Mar 2, 1999||Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.||Self-expandable helical intravascular stent and stent-graft|
|US5876487 *||Mar 17, 1997||Mar 2, 1999||Donaldson Company, Inc.||Computers|
|US5879383 *||Jun 30, 1997||Mar 9, 1999||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Blood contact surfaces using endothelium on a subendothelial matrix|
|US5879794 *||Nov 8, 1996||Mar 9, 1999||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Non-woven substrate containing particulate filler, adhesive resin; electronics|
|US5883319 *||Nov 22, 1995||Mar 16, 1999||W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Strings for musical instruments|
|US5892621 *||Apr 10, 1996||Apr 6, 1999||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Light reflectant surface for luminaires|
|US5899942 *||May 15, 1998||May 4, 1999||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||For use with a bone member|
|US5900292 *||Jul 11, 1997||May 4, 1999||Japan Gore-Tex, Inc.||Liquid crystal polymer film and a method for manufacturing the same|
|US5905594 *||Sep 10, 1996||May 18, 1999||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Light reflectant surface in a recessed cavity substantially surrounding a compact fluorescent lamp|
|US5906363 *||Feb 24, 1997||May 25, 1999||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Vacuum fixture and method for dimensioning and manipulating materials|
|US5907113 *||Dec 20, 1996||May 25, 1999||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Strings for musical instruments|
|US5908427 *||May 30, 1997||Jun 1, 1999||United States Surgical Corporation||Surgical stapling apparatus and method|
|US5910168 *||Feb 5, 1998||Jun 8, 1999||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Prosthetic vascular graft|
|US5913899 *||Oct 3, 1997||Jun 22, 1999||University College London||Prosthetic joint replacing a natural joint|
|US5919225 *||Jul 14, 1997||Jul 6, 1999||Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.||Procedures for introducing stents and stent-grafts|
|US5919583 *||Aug 29, 1997||Jul 6, 1999||E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company||Membranes containing inorganic fillers and membrane and electrode assemblies and electrochemical cells employing same|
|US5925061 *||Jan 13, 1997||Jul 20, 1999||Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.||Low profile vascular stent|
|US5928414 *||Nov 15, 1996||Jul 27, 1999||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Cleanable filter media and filter elements|
|US5931865 *||Nov 24, 1997||Aug 3, 1999||Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.||Multiple-layered leak resistant tube|
|US5935667 *||Jun 10, 1997||Aug 10, 1999||Impra, Inc.||This invention relates generally to dual porosity polytetrafluoroethylene (ptfe) tubes or prosthetic vascular grafts for implantation within the vascular system of a patient. pro|
|US5938928 *||Sep 18, 1997||Aug 17, 1999||Nonap Pty. Ltd.||Concentration of liquid mixture, i.e. beverages, juices, without heating|
|US5939198 *||Jul 23, 1998||Aug 17, 1999||E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company||Porous polytetrafluoro-ethylene and preparation|
|US5947918 *||May 4, 1998||Sep 7, 1999||Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.||Impact energy absorbing composite materials|
|US5954910 *||Jun 5, 1995||Sep 21, 1999||Japan Gore-Tex, Inc.||Curing synthetic rubber impregnated in pores of polytetrafluoroethylene release surface material precursor|
|US5957690 *||Nov 17, 1997||Sep 28, 1999||Bartee; Barry K.||Securing unexpanded and unsintered polytetrafluoroethylene sheet having smooth and textured surfaces over defect between alveolar bone and gingival tissue and allowing defect to heal under sheet; removing sheet after defect has healed|
|US5964465 *||Mar 13, 1996||Oct 12, 1999||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Low creep polytetrafluoroethylene form-in-place gasketing elements|
|US5968446 *||Aug 1, 1995||Oct 19, 1999||Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.||Molded resin body and method for producing the same|
|US5971006 *||Jul 16, 1998||Oct 26, 1999||Seigerschmidt; Helmut||Inflatable cushion with a valve|
|US5971399 *||May 5, 1997||Oct 26, 1999||Chiyoda Corporation||Lower density projection portion concentric with a higher density annular disk; integrally formed of porous polytetrafluoroethylene; density gradient with higher density at planar surface and edge; alkali resistance, elasticity|
|US5972449 *||Feb 8, 1999||Oct 26, 1999||Donaldson Company, Inc.||Porous products manufactured from polytetrafluoroethylene treated with a perfluoroether fluid and methods of manufacturing such products|
|US5980799 *||Jun 16, 1998||Nov 9, 1999||Atrium Medical Corporation||Extruding billet of fluoropolymer having lubricant to form prosthesis blank; removing lubricant and stretching to form porous blank; sintering to fix dimensions|
|US5981019 *||Oct 6, 1997||Nov 9, 1999||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Protective covers with water and air impenetrable seams|
|US5981097 *||Dec 9, 1997||Nov 9, 1999||E.I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company||Consists of a cathode and an anode compartment separted by a cation exchange resin membrane serving as a separator and containing atleast three layers with variable ion exchange ratio|
|US5982542 *||Aug 12, 1997||Nov 9, 1999||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||High light diffusive and low light absorbent material and method for making and using same|
|US5982548 *||May 19, 1997||Nov 9, 1999||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Thin light reflectant surface and method for making and using same|
|US5988414 *||Apr 23, 1996||Nov 23, 1999||Schwarz; Robert||Lid for containers, housings, bottles or similar structures|
|US5989709 *||Apr 30, 1998||Nov 23, 1999||Gore Enterprises Holdings, Inc.||Sewn at high speed; increased toughness|
|US5993489 *||Feb 17, 1998||Nov 30, 1999||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Tubular intraluminal graft and stent combination|
|US6001123 *||May 28, 1996||Dec 14, 1999||Gore Enterprise Holdings Inc.||Folding self-expandable intravascular stent-graft|
|US6001302 *||Jul 7, 1998||Dec 14, 1999||Japan Gore-Tex, Inc.||Method of blow-molding an article of liquid crystal polymer and porous PTFE|
|US6010560 *||Apr 7, 1997||Jan 4, 2000||Witzko; Richard||Tube unit and process for its fabrication|
|US6010785 *||Feb 25, 1998||Jan 4, 2000||E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company||Cardable blends of dual glass fibers|
|US6015429 *||Mar 12, 1996||Jan 18, 2000||Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.||Procedures for introducing stents and stent-grafts|
|US6015610 *||Nov 14, 1997||Jan 18, 2000||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene with microstructure of polymer nodes, fibers and voids, coating with light reflective material|
|US6017362 *||Jan 22, 1997||Jan 25, 2000||Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.||Folding self-expandable intravascular stent|
|US6018819 *||Apr 15, 1998||Feb 1, 2000||Bha Technologies, Inc.||Garment with moisture vapor transmissive wind barrier panels|
|US6019764 *||Jul 7, 1997||Feb 1, 2000||Bartee; Barry K.||Method of treating alveolar bone defects|
|US6027553 *||Apr 8, 1998||Feb 22, 2000||Daikin Industries, Ltd.||Air filter unit and method for manufacturing the same|
|US6027771 *||Jul 11, 1997||Feb 22, 2000||Moriya; Akira||Nonporous composite material laminate formed by combination of a liquid crystal polymer film with two support membranes and stretching the composite material laminate to provide a multiaxially-oriented liquid crystal polymer film|
|US6030428 *||Aug 28, 1998||Feb 29, 2000||Nitto Denko Corporation||High collection efficiency and a low pressure loss, reduced in the leakage of coarse particles; clean room filter media in various fields, in the production of semiconductors|
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|US6054230 *||Dec 6, 1995||Apr 25, 2000||Japan Gore-Tex, Inc.||Ion exchange and electrode assembly for an electrochemical cell|
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|US6071452 *||Sep 23, 1999||Jun 6, 2000||Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.||Heating said ptfe fiber to a temperature of from about 300 degrees c. to about 500 degrees c. while overfeeding said ptfe fiber at an overfeed of up to about 70%.|
|US6080472 *||Jun 24, 1998||Jun 27, 2000||Yeu Ming Tai Chemical Ind. Co., Ltd.||Microstructure of nodes interconnected with fibrils|
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|US6093230 *||Oct 12, 1998||Jul 25, 2000||Allegiance Corporation||Filter assembly comprising two filter elements separated by a hydrophobic foam|
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|US6110243 *||Oct 9, 1998||Aug 29, 2000||Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.||Cleanable filter bag assembly|
|US6110333 *||Apr 30, 1998||Aug 29, 2000||E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company||Composite membrane with highly crystalline porous support|
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|US6146446 *||Oct 8, 1998||Nov 14, 2000||Donaldson Company, Inc.||Uses in electronic equipment and chemical manufacturing and storage.|
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|WO2013134447A1||Mar 7, 2013||Sep 12, 2013||W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Stretchable insole|
|WO2013139787A1||Mar 19, 2013||Sep 26, 2013||W. L. Gore & Associates Gmbh||Breathable dip glove|
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|WO2013157969A1||Apr 17, 2013||Oct 24, 2013||Politechnika Łodzka||Medical material for reconstruction of blood vessels, the method of its production and use of the medical material for reconstruction of blood vessels|
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|WO2014019612A1||Jul 31, 2012||Feb 6, 2014||W. L. Gore & Associates Gmbh||Combination of an envelope for a laminar structure providing adaptive thermal insulation and a heat protection shield|
|WO2014019613A1||Jul 31, 2012||Feb 6, 2014||W. L. Gore & Associates Gmbh||Envelope for a laminar structure providing adaptive thermal insulation|
|WO2014070900A1||Oct 30, 2013||May 8, 2014||W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.||Improved sleeve for medical device assembly|
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| || |
|U.S. Classification||174/102.00R, 428/327, 428/364, 428/36.92, 128/205.12, 428/324, 428/325, 55/DIG.5, 428/36.9, 55/486, 428/315.5, 384/902, 264/288.8, 524/546, 428/323, 261/104, 508/106, 428/331, 428/320.2, 55/528|
|International Classification||H01B3/44, B01D71/36, B29C55/18, B29C55/12, C08J5/12, C08J5/18, B29C55/00|
|Cooperative Classification||Y10S55/05, B29C55/12, H01B3/445, Y10S384/902, B01D71/36, C08J2327/18, B29C55/005, C08J5/124, C08J5/18, B29K2105/04, B29K2027/18, B29C55/18|
|European Classification||C08J5/12H, C08J5/18, B29C55/12, H01B3/44D2, B29C55/18, B01D71/36, B29C55/00B|
|Feb 14, 2012||AS||Assignment|
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:GORE ENTERPRISE HOLDINGS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:027906/0508
Effective date: 20120130
Owner name: W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC., DELAWARE
|Jun 19, 1984||PS||Patent suit(s) filed|
|May 8, 1984||PS||Patent suit(s) filed|
|Mar 2, 1984||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: GORE ENTERPRISE HOLDINGS, INC., 555 PAPER MILL ROA
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC., A DE CORP.;REEL/FRAME:004233/0978
Effective date: 19830824
|Feb 22, 1983||PS||Patent suit(s) filed|