EP0157640A2 — Heat recoverable articles comprising conductive p…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 137 words

A method of joining, repairing, reinforcing or otherwise modifying a substrate, at least an outer surface of which is composed of a first composition which is a heat-softenable composition comprising an organic polymer, which method comprises (1) placing adjacent to each other the parts of the substrates to be joined, repaired, reinforced, or otherwise modified, and an article comprising a heat-recoverable element, the heat-recoverable element being composed of a second composition which (a) is compatible with the first composition, and (b) comprises an organic polymer and, dispersed in the polymer, a particulate conductive filler; and (2) generating heat within said element to cause the element to recover into contact with the parts of the substrates to be joined, repaired, reinforced or otherwise modified and to cause fusion (as hereinbefore defined) between the element and said outer surface.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 137 words

A method of joining, repairing, reinforcing or otherwise modifying a substrate, at least an outer surface of which is composed of a first composition which is a heat-softenable composition comprising an organic polymer, which method comprises (1) placing adjacent to each other the parts of the substrates to be joined, repaired, reinforced, or otherwise modified, and an article comprising a heat-recoverable element, the heat-recoverable element being composed of a second composition which (a) is compatible with the first composition, and (b) comprises an organic polymer and, dispersed in the polymer, a particulate conductive filler; and (2) generating heat within said element to cause the element to recover into contact with the parts of the substrates to be joined, repaired, reinforced or otherwise modified and to cause fusion (as hereinbefore defined) between the element and said outer surface.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 62 words

A method according to claim 1, wherein the second composition comprises (a) a matrix consisting essentially of organic polymer particles which have been sintered together so that the particles have coalesced without completely losing their identity, and (b) a particulate conductive filler which is dispersed in said matrix but is present substantially only at or near the boundaries of the coalesced particles.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 66 words

A heat-recoverable article comprising a heat-recoverable element which is composed of a conductive polymer composition comprising (a) a matrix consisting essentially of organic polymer particles which have been sintered together so that the particles have coalesced without losing their identity, and (b) a particulate conductive filler which is dispersed in said matrix but is present substantially only at or near the boundaries of the coalesced particles.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 66 words

A heat-recoverable article comprising a heat-recoverable element which is composed of a conductive polymer composition comprising (a) a matrix consisting essentially of organic polymer particles which have been sintered together so that the particles have coalesced without losing their identity, and (b) a particulate conductive filler which is dispersed in said matrix but is present substantially only at or near the boundaries of the coalesced particles.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 74 words

A method or article according to any preceding claim wherein the second composition has a resistivity at 23°C of 1 to 100 ohm.cm, preferably 2.5 to 25 ohm.cm and contains less than 9%, preferably 2 to 6%, by volume of a particulate conductive filler, or has a resistivity at 23°C of 1 to 100 ohm.cm, contains less than 26% by weight of a particulate conductive filler, and has a molecular weight greater than 200,000.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 47 words

A method or article according to any preceding claim wherein the heat recoverable element comprises two or more layers of different materials, wherein one layer preferably comprises organic polymer and dispersed in the polymer a particulate conductive filler, and another layer preferably comprises a non conductive layer.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 89 words

A method or article according to any preceding claim wherein the second composition (a) has a resistivity at 23°C of 1 to 100 ohm.cm, and (b) comprises (i) a matrix consisting essentially of particles of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene which have been sintered together so that the particles have coalesced without losing their identity, and (ii) less than 9% by volume of a particulate conductive filler which is dispersed in said matrix but is present substantially only at or near the boundaries of the coalesced particles of polyethylene.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 27 words

A method or article according to any preceding claim wherein the organic polymer comprises ultra high molecular weight polyethylene having a molecular weight greater than 4.0 million.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 157 words

A method according to any preceding claim wherein the substrates are pipes, heat is generated within the element by passing electrical current therethrough, and the end of a first pipe is joined as a branch into a second pipe, which method comprises (1) making a hole in the wall of the second pipe; (2) placing the coupler adjacent the second pipe, the coupler (a) comprising a section which conforms generally to the wall of the second pipe and which has a hole therethrough and (b) being heat-recoverable in the area adjacent the hole so that when the coupler is heated the size of the hole decreases, and the hole in the coupler being aligned with the hole in the second pipe; (3) placing the end of the first pipe through the hole in the coupler; and (4) passing electrical current through the conductive polymer element to cause the coupler to recover into contact with the first pipe.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 111 words

A method of repairing, reinforcing, joining or otherwise modifying a substrate, which method comprises (1) placing adjacent the substrate an article comprising an element which is composed of a conductive polymer composition comprising (a) a matrix consisting essentially of organic polymer particles which have been sintered together so that the particles have coalesced without losing their identity, and (b) a particulate conductive filler which is dispersed in said matrix but is present substantially only at or near the boundaries of the coalesced particles; and (2) generating heat within the conductive polymer element while maintaining the article in direct or indirect contact with the substrate, thereby adhering the article to the substrate.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 111 words

A method of repairing, reinforcing, joining or otherwise modifying a substrate, which method comprises (1) placing adjacent the substrate an article comprising an element which is composed of a conductive polymer composition comprising (a) a matrix consisting essentially of organic polymer particles which have been sintered together so that the particles have coalesced without losing their identity, and (b) a particulate conductive filler which is dispersed in said matrix but is present substantially only at or near the boundaries of the coalesced particles; and (2) generating heat within the conductive polymer element while maintaining the article in direct or indirect contact with the substrate, thereby adhering the article to the substrate.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 70 words

A method according to claim 9, wherein heat is generated within the article by passing electrical current therethrough, and wherein the conductive polymer element is brought into direct contact with a substrate whose contacted surface is composed of a heat-softenable composition comprising an organic polymer, and electrical current is passed through the conductive polymer element for a time sufficient to cause fusion between the conductive polymer element and the substrate.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 82 words

A method according to claim 9, of joining at least two substrates positioned such that there is a gap therebetween, wherein the conductive polymer element is brought into direct contact with a substrate whose contacted surface is composed of a heat-softenable composition comprising an organic polymer, and electrical current is passed through the conductive polymer element for a time sufficient (i) to cause the heat softenable composition to soften (ii) to drive the softened composition to fill the gap between the substrates.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 144 words

A method of joining at least two substrates positioned adjacent to each other such that there is a gap between the parts of the substrates to be joined, the method comprising: (1) selecting the substrates such that at least one of the substrates has at least an outer surface which is composed of a composition which is heat softenable, and/or providing an insert member which is composed of a heat softenable composition, (2) placing adjacent the substrates an article which comprises a heat-recoverable element comprising an organic polymer and dispersed in the polymer a particulate conductive filler, and (3) generating heat within the element (i) to cause the element to recover into contact with the parts of the substrate to be joined (ii) to cause the heat-softenable composition(s) to soften and (iii) to drive the softened composition(s) to fill the gap between the substrates..

Claim 16

Independent Claim 144 words

A method of joining at least two substrates positioned adjacent to each other such that there is a gap between the parts of the substrates to be joined, the method comprising: (1) selecting the substrates such that at least one of the substrates has at least an outer surface which is composed of a composition which is heat softenable, and/or providing an insert member which is composed of a heat softenable composition, (2) placing adjacent the substrates an article which comprises a heat-recoverable element comprising an organic polymer and dispersed in the polymer a particulate conductive filler, and (3) generating heat within the element (i) to cause the element to recover into contact with the parts of the substrate to be joined (ii) to cause the heat-softenable composition(s) to soften and (iii) to drive the softened composition(s) to fill the gap between the substrates..

Claim 17

Independent Claim 88 words

A method of joining repairing, reinforcing or otherwise modifying a hollow substrate comprising: (1) placing adajent to the substrate an article comprising a heat-recoverable element comprising an organic polymer and dispersed in the polymer, a particulate conductive filler. (2) positioning a support member within the hollow substrate, which support member has protuberances on its external surface, and (3) generating heat within said element to cause the element to recover towards the substrate such that it deforms the substrate into the gaps between the protuberances of the support member.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 88 words

A method of joining repairing, reinforcing or otherwise modifying a hollow substrate comprising: (1) placing adajent to the substrate an article comprising a heat-recoverable element comprising an organic polymer and dispersed in the polymer, a particulate conductive filler. (2) positioning a support member within the hollow substrate, which support member has protuberances on its external surface, and (3) generating heat within said element to cause the element to recover towards the substrate such that it deforms the substrate into the gaps between the protuberances of the support member.

Heat recoverable articles comprising conductive polymer compositions

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