Polymeric articles having embedded phases

US6447875B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY · US

Inventors

• Scott G. Norquist · Windom, US
• Dennis L. Krueger · Hudson, US
• Alan J. Sipinen · Windom, US
• Robert H. Menzies · Hudson, US
• Thomas P. Hanschen · Windom, US
• Ronald P. Leseman · Windom, US
• Sharon N. Mitchell · Windom, US
• James C. Nygard · Windom, US
• Victor P. Thalacker · Stillwater, US
• Jan Ockeloen · Simpsonville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 30, 1999
• Grant date: Sep 10, 2002
• Expiry date: Jul 30, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T428/28
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A die apparatus, a method of using the die apparatus to produce co-extruded polymeric articles, and co-extruded polymeric articles produced using the die apparatus and method are disclosed. The die apparatus includes a hollow vane configured to extrude a material into a chamber within the die, thereby producing a co-extruded web. The co-extruded web has a plurality of distinct, discontinuous phases in the cross-web direction, the phases having a uniform width as shown by a coefficient of variation of less than 8 percent for, any three consecutive phases. The phases are substantially continuous down-web and are surrounded by a matrix having two or more layers.