Weatherseal having a contact layer with thermoplastic particles in a thermoset carrier

Abstract

A weatherseal for repeatedly and releasably contacting a panel to provide a weather resistant seal therebetween. The weatherseal includes a substrate having a contact layer on the portion of the substrate that contacts the panel. The contact layer includes a multitude of surface treated ultra high molecular weight olefinic particles, such as ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, in a thermoset material such as cross linkable urethane, wherein some of the embedded particles define the area of contact between the weatherseal and the panel.

In the claims:  
     
         1 . A weatherseal for releasably contacting a panel, comprising: 
 (a) a substrate; and    (b) a contact layer on at least a portion of the substrate, the contact layer including a thermoset carrier and a multitude of UHMW polyethylene particles having a polar functional group, the UHMW polyethylene particles chemically bonded to the thermoset carrier.    
     
     
         2 . The weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoset carrier includes cross linkable urethane.  
     
     
         3 . The weatherseal of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate includes one of an EPDM, modified EPDM, thermoplastic and thermoplastic elastomer.  
     
     
         4 . A weatherseal, comprising: 
 (a) a substrate formed of one of EPDM, modified EPDM, thermoplastic and thermoplastic elastomer; and    (b) a contact layer on the substrate, the contact layer including surface treated UHMW polyolefin particles in a cross linked urethane based carrier.    
     
     
         5 . The weatherseal of  claim 4 , wherein the ultra high molecule weight polyolefin particle is cross linked.  
     
     
         6 . A contact layer for a weatherseal, comprising: 
 (a) a multitude of surface treated thermoplastic particles bonded to a curable carrier.    
     
     
         7 . The contact layer of  claim 6 , wherein the thermoplastic particles are an ultra high molecular weight olefin.  
     
     
         8 . The contact layer of  claim 6 , wherein the thermoplastic particles are surface treated UHMW polyethylene.  
     
     
         9 . The contact layer of  claim 6 , wherein the carrier includes urethane.  
     
     
         10 . The contact layer of  claim 6 , wherein the thermoplastic particles have a melting temperature greater than a curing temperature of the thermoset carrier.  
     
     
         11 . A weatherseal, comprising: 
 (a) a substrate; and    (b) a contact layer on a portion of the substrate, the contact layer having a multitude of surface treated olefinic particles in a cured thermoset urethane based carrier.    
     
     
         12 . The weatherseal of  claim 11 , wherein the substrate is one of an EPDM, a modified EPDM, a thermoplastic and a thermoplastic elastomer.  
     
     
         13 . The weatherseal of  claim 11 , wherein the surface treated olefinic particles are UHMW polyethylene.  
     
     
         14 . The weatherseal of  claim 11 , wherein the surface treated olefinic particles are chemically bonded to the cured thermoset urethane based carrier.  
     
     
         15 . The weatherseal of  claim 11 , wherein the surface treated olefinic particles are cross linked.  
     
     
         16 . The weatherseal of  claim 11 , wherein the surface treated olefinic particles are sufficiently bonded to the carrier to substantially preclude separation.  
     
     
         17 . The weatherseal of  claim 11 , wherein the surface treated olefinic particles are encapsulated within the carrier.  
     
     
         18 . The weatherseal of  claim 11 , wherein the surface treated olefinic particles have a polar functional group.  
     
     
         19 . The weatherseal of  claim 11 , wherein a melting temperature of the surface treated olefinic particles is less than a curing temperature of the urethane based carrier.  
     
     
         20 . A method of forming a weatherseal, comprising: 
 (a) forming a substrate;    (b) mixing a multitude of surface treated olefinic particles and a curable thermoset urethane based carrier;    (c) disposing the mixed surface treated olefinic particles and the curable thermoset urethane based carrier on a portion of the substrate; and    (d) curing the curable thermoset urethane based carrier as it is disposed on the substrate to retain discrete surface treated olefinic particles.