Patent · US Expired

Method of making a high molecular weight polyolefin article

US5741451A · kind A · utility

49Cited by
18References
42Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 17, 1995
Grant dateApr 21, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 17, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T442/60
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

By poststretching, at a temperature between about 135.degree. and 160.degree. C., a polyethylene fiber, which has already been oriented by drawing at a temperature within 5.degree. C. of its melting point, an ultra high modulus, very low creep, low shrink, high tenacity polyolefin fiber having good strength retention at high temperatures is obtained. The poststretching can be in multiple stages and/or with previous annealing. The poststretching should be done at a draw rate of less than 1 second.sup.-1. Tensile modulus values over 2,000 g/d for multifilament yarn are consistently obtained for ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene, with tensile strength values above 30 g/d while at the same time dramatically improving creep (at 160.degree. F. (71.1.degree. C.) and 39,150 psi load) by values at least 25% lower than fiber which has not been poststretched. Shrinkage is improved to values less than 2.5% of the original length when heated from room temperature to 135.degree. C. Performance at higher temperature is improved by about 15.degree. to 25.degree. C.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.