William L Macknight, 734526 Mill Creek Rd, Dallas, TX 75244

6083583, Jul 4, 2000

Oct 15, 1998

9/174303

Paul Klocek - Dallas TX
William J. MacKnight - Amherst MA
Richard J. Farris - Leeds MA
Christian Lietzau - Rhinebeck NY

Raytheon Company - Lexington MA
University of Massachusetts - Amherst MA

B32B 2736

428 35

A protective, impact resistant material and method, the material comprising a fabric of thermoplastic polymeric fibers having a strength of at least 0. 4 GPa and an elastic modulus of at least 5 GPa and a matrix of polymeric material disposed in the interstices between the fibers, the matrix having an elastic modulus in the range 0. 2 to 3. times. 10. sup. 6 psi. The polymeric fibers can be gel spun polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyvinyl alcohol and polyethylene terephthalate. In a second embodiment, the matrix is derived from the fabric. The method of making the material comprises providing a matrix of melted polymeric material transparent to energy of a predetermined type and having a predetermined melting temperature, placing a fabric of polymeric fibers having a melting temperature higher than the melting temperature of the matrix in the matrix, applying a pressure of 1000 to 6000 psi to the fabric disposed in the matrix, then raising the temperature to the melting temperature of the fabric for the minimum time required to cause consolidation of the fabric and the matrix and rapidly cooling the consolidated fabric and matrix to a temperature below the melting temperature of the fabric. In accordance with a second embodiment there is provided a fabric of polymeric fibers as in the first embodiment which is operated upon as in the first embodiment to cause melting of a sufficient portion of the fabric to fill the interstices between the fibers of the fabric and the fabric is then rapidly cooled to a temperature below the melting temperature of the fabric.

5879607, Mar 9, 1999

Mar 29, 1996

8/625503

Paul Klocek - Dallas TX
William J. MacKnight - Amherst MA
Richard J. Farris - Leeds MA
Christian Lietzau - Mt. Vernon IN

Raytheon TI Systems & University of Massachusetts

B29C 6100

264231

A protective, impact resistant material and method which includes a fabric of thermoplastic polymeric fibers having a strength of at least 0. 5 GPa and an elastic modulus of at least 25 GPa and a matrix of polymeric material disposed in the interstices between the fibers having an elastic modulus of 0. 2 to 3. times. 10. sup. 6 psi. The polymeric fibers can be gel spun, polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyvinyl alcohol and polyethylene terephthalate. In a second embodiment, the matrix is derived from the fabric. The method includes the steps of providing a matrix of melted polymeric material transparent to energy of a predetermined type and having a predetermined melting temperature, placing a fabric of polymeric fibers having a melting temperature higher than that of the matrix in the matrix, applying a pressure of 1000 to 2000 psi to the fabric in the matrix, then raising the temperature to the melting temperature of the fabric for the time required to cause consolidation of the fabric and the matrix and rapidly cooling the consolidated fabric and matrix to a temperature below the melting temperature of the fabric. In accordance with the second embodiment there is provided a fabric of polymeric fibers as in the first embodiment which is operated upon as in the first embodiment to cause melting of a sufficient portion of the fabric to fill the interstices between the fibers of the fabric. The fabric is then rapidly cooled to a temperature below the melting temperature of the fabric.

5573824, Nov 12, 1996

May 11, 1994

8/241218

Paul Klocek - Dallas TX
William J. MacKnight - Amherst MA
Richard J. Farris - Leeds MA
Christian Lietzau - Mt. Vernon IN

Texas Instruments - Dallas TX
University of Massachusetts - Amherst MA

B32B 2736

428 38

A protective, impact resistant material and method, the material comprising a fabric of thermoplastic polymeric fibers having a strength of at least 0. 5 GPa and an elastic modulus of at least 25 GPa and a matrix of polymeric material disposed in the interstices between the fibers, the matrix having an elastic modulus in the range 0. 2 to 3. times. 10. sup. 6 psi. The polymeric fibers can be gel spun polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyvinyl alcohol and polyethylene terephthalate. In a second embodiment, the matrix is derived from the fabric. The method of making the material comprises providing a matrix of melted polymeric material transparent to energy of a predetermined type and having a predetermined melting temperature, placing a fabric of polymeric fibers having a melting temperature higher than the melting temperature of the matrix in the matrix, applying a pressure of 1000 to 2000 psi to the fabric disposed in the matrix, then raising the temperature to the melting temperature of the fabric for the minimum time required to cause consolidation of the fabric and the matrix and rapidly cooling the consolidated fabric and matrix to a temperature below the melting temperature of the fabric. In accordance with a second embodiment there is provided a fabric of polymeric fibers as in the first embodiment which is operated upon as in the first embodiment to cause melting of a sufficient portion of the fabric to fill the interstices between the fibers of the fabric and the fabric is then rapidly cooled to a temperature below the melting temperature of the fabric.

6077381, Jun 20, 2000

Jun 7, 1995

8/487818

Paul Klocek - Dallas TX
William J. MacKnight - Amherst MA
Richard J. Farris - Leeds MA
Christian Lietzau - Mt. Vernon IN

Raytheon Company - Lexington MA

C09J 500

156311

A method of making a protective coating material wherein there is provided a matrix of melted polymeric material transparent to energy of a predetermined type and having a predetermined melting temperature. A fabric of polymeric fibers having a melting temperature higher than the melting temperature of the matrix is placed in the matrix. The fibers are thermoplastic and have a strength of at least about 0. 5 GPa (70,000 psi) and an elastic (Young's) modulus of at least about 25 GPa (3. 6. times. 10. sup. 6 psi) and said matrix has an elastic modulus in the range from about 0. 2 to about 3. times. 10. sup. 6 psi. A pressure of from about 1000 to about 2000 psi is applied to the fabric disposed in the matrix and then the temperature is raised to about and at least the melting temperature of the fabric for about the minimum time required to cause consolidation of the fabric and the matrix. The consolidated fabric and matrix are then rapidly cooled to a temperature below the melting temperature of the fabric.

5935651, Aug 10, 1999

Aug 29, 1995

8/521154

Paul Klocek - Dallas TX
William J. MacKnight - Amherst MA
Richard J. Farris - Leeds MA
Christian Lietzau - Rhinebeck NY

Raytheon TI Systems, Inc. - Lewisville TX
University of Massachusetts - Amherst MA

B05D 500

427256

A protective, impact resistant material and method, the material comprising a fabric of thermoplastic polymeric fibers having a strength of at least 0. 4 GPa and an elastic modulus of at least 5 GPa and a matrix of polymeric material disposed in the interstices between the fibers, the matrix having an elastic modulus in the range 0. 2 to 3. times. 10. sup. 6 psi. The polymeric fibers can be gel spun polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyvinyl alcohol and polyethylene terephthalate. In a second embodiment, the matrix is derived from the fabric. The method of making the material comprises providing a matrix of melted polymeric material transparent to energy of a predetermined type and having a predetermined melting temperature, placing a fabric of polymeric fibers having a melting temperature higher than the melting temperature of the matrix in the matrix, applying a pressure of 1000 to 6000 psi to the fabric disposed in the matrix, then raising the temperature to the melting temperature of the fabric for the minimum time required to cause consolidation of the fabric and the matrix and rapidly cooling the consolidated fabric and matrix to a temperature below the melting temperature of the fabric. In accordance with a second embodiment there is provided a fabric of polymeric fibers as in the first embodiment which is operated upon as in the first embodiment to cause melting of a sufficient portion of the fabric to fill the interstices between the fibers of the fabric and the fabric is then rapidly cooled to a temperature below the melting temperature of the fabric.