US3620701A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for treating and impregnating glass fiber bundles for reinforcement of elastomeric materials and product
Assignee: Owens Corning
•
Filing: 1969-08-13
•
Granted: 1971-11-16
•
Expires: 1989-08-13
Abstract
Abstract The concepts of this invention reside in the coating of individual glass fibers, in connection with the glass fiberforming operation, with an elastomeric compatible composition having a curable elastomeric material, followed by at least partial cure of the elastomeric material before the bundle formed of a multiplicity of such coated glass fibers are flexed during processing of the glass fibers in strand, yarn, cord, or fabric formation, whereby the elastomeric-based composition is capable, even when present in an amount as low as 1-4 percent by weight solids, of protecting the coated glass fibers from breaking through the coating during flexure and whereby the bundle formed of the coated glass fibers can be processed to the form desired for use as a reinforcement without seizure or otherwise interfering with the processing steps, after which the bundle is impregnated with an elastomeric-based material for the desirable full loading of the glass fiber bundle to enhance the integration of the reinforcing bundle of glass fibers with the elastomeric matrix in the manufacture of glass fiber-reinforced elastomeric products.
Inventors
- 👤 Nicholas S Janetos
- 👤 Alfred Marzocchi
- 👤 David E Leary
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:51
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03C; C03C25/00; C03C25/10; C03C25/24; C03C25/26; C03C25/27
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
23 words
The process as claimed in claim 1 in which the elastomeric material in the coating is advanced by heating the coated glass fibers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process as claimed in claim 2 in which the coated glass fibers are heated to a temperature within the range of 350*-600* F.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process as claimed in claim 1 in which the elastomeric-based coating composition and the elastomeric-based impregnating composition are substantially the same.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process as claimed in claim 1 in which the amount of coating applied to the individual glass fibers is within the range of 2- 4 percent by weight on the dry solids basis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process as claimed in claim 1 in which the elastomeric coating is applied to the glass fibers in forming to coat the individual glass fibers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process as claimed in claim 1 in which the total elastomeric-based material in the impregnated bundles of glass fibers is within the range of 10-18 percent by weight of the impregnated glass fiber system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process as claimed in claim 1 which includes the steps of combining the impregnated bundle of glass fibers with the continuous phase elastomer and molding the glass fiber-elastomeric product therefrom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
The process as claimed in claim 1 in which the glass fiber bundle has rubber-based material distributed substantially throughout the bundle of glass fibers with a higher concentration of elastomeric-based material at the outer portions of the glass fiber bundle by comparison with the interior and with the elastomeric material coating each of the fibers in an advanced state of cure or vulcanization.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process as claimed in claim 9 in which the bundle is substantially enclosed within a layer of the elastomeric-based material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
206 words
In the preparation of an element of glass fibers for use in the reinforcement of elastomeric materials forming the continuous phase in the manufacture of glass fiber - elastomeric products, the method for improving the integration of the glass fiber component with the elastomeric material comprising the steps of providing a glass melt, issuing a plurality of streams of molten glass from the melt, rapidly attenuating the streams of molten glass into fine flexible glass fibers, coating the individual glass fibers immediately after forming with a composition containing a curable or vulcanizable elastomeric material in an amount up to 5 percent by weight but more than 0.5 percent by weight, calculated on the dry solids basis, gathering the coated fibers into a glass fiber bundle, heating the fibers before or after bundle formation to advance the elastomeric component to at least a partially cured or vulcanized state, processing bundles of such coated glass fibers to the form desired for combination with the continuous phase elastomer, and impregnating the processed bundles of glass fibers with a rubber-based impregnating composition to provide a total loading of coating and impregnating composition of more than 10 percent but less than 18 percent by weight calculated on the dry solids basis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as claimed in claim 11 in which the amount of coating applied to the glass fibers is within the range of 2-4 percent by weight solids.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
96 words
In the method of producing glass fiber-reinforced elastomeric products comprising combining the elastomeric material forming the continuous phase in the elastomeric product in an uncured or unvulcanized state with glass fibers in bundle form loaded with more than 10 percent by weight but less than 18 percent by weight of elastomeric based material with with individual fibers coated with 0.5-5 percent by weight of an elastomeric material in at least a partially cured or vulcanized state, molding the combination of glass fiber bundles and continuous phase elastomer and advancing the elastomeric material to a set stage.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as claimed in claim 13 in which the glass fiber bundles are loaded with the elastomeric based material in an amount within the range of 10-18 percent by weight.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as claimed in claim 13 in which the molded elastomeric material and glass fiber product are advanced to a cured stage.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as claimed in claim 13 in which the molded elastomeric material and glass fiber product are advanced to a vulcanized stage.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
99 words
A bundle formed of a multiplicity of glass fibers, an elastomeric based material distributed throughout the cross section of the glass fiber bundle with the concentration of elastomeric-based material being higher in the outer portions of the glass fiber bundle than in the central interior portion of the glass fiber bundle with the individual fibers coated with 0.5-5 percent by weight of aN elastomeric material in at least a partially cured or vulcanized state and with the amount of loading of the elastomeric based materials in the glass fiber bundles being within the range of 10-24 percent by weight.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
114 words
A glass fiber reinforcement for elastomeric materials comprising a bundle formed of a multiplicity of glass fibers in which the individual glass fibers of the bundle have a coating of elastomeric-based material in at least a partially cured or vulcanized state and in which the bundle of glass fibers is fully loaded with elastomeric-based material in an amount sufficient to interbound the bundle with the continuous phase elastomer to be reinforced while protecting the individual glass fibers in the bundle to prevent the fibers from breaking through during flexure and wherein the individual glass fibers in the bundle are capable of relative movement sufficient to contribute their proportionate share of reinforcement in the bundle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3424608A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-15 | 1975-05-17 | 1975-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-15 | 1979-05-17 | 1979-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-15 | 1983-05-17 | 1983-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |