Composite materials made from pretreated, adhesive coated beads

Abstract

A composite material comprised of polymeric beads and adhesive, primarily intended for use in constructing buildings, athletic fields, waste pond covers, packaging, contact sports gear and medial equipment, is comprised of a plurality of electrical excitation zone-treated beads having average diameters between about 1 mm and about 10 mm that are substantially coated with the adhesive material and used in quantities such that void spaces constitute at least about 10 percent by volume of the total volume of the composite material. Upon curing, said adhesive preferably has hardness levels ranging from about Shore A 20 to about Shore A 95.

1 . A composite material comprised of a plurality of beads having average diameters that range from about 1 mm to about 10 mm and of which at least 50 percent are at least 50 percent coated with an adhesive, and wherein a cured form of the adhesive has a hardness ranging from about Shore A 60 to about Shore A 95 and is used in a quantity such that it represents between about 20 and about 80 weight percent of the composite material, thereby serving to create a system of void spaces between the adhesive coated beads that constitutes from about 10 to about 40 volume percent of the total volume of the composite material. 
   
   
       2 . The composite material of  claim 1  wherein the adhesive coated beads have average diameters that range from about 1 mm to about 4 mm. 
   
   
       3 . The composite material of  claim 1  wherein the beads are inelastic. 
   
   
       4 . The composite material of  claim 1  wherein the beads are elastic. 
   
   
       5 . The composite material of  claim 1  wherein the beads are made of polymeric materials selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, propylene, and ethyl propylene copolymer. 
   
   
       6 . The composite material of  claim 1  wherein the system of void spaces is substantially comprised of substantially regularly distributed void spaces. 
   
   
       7 . The composite material of  claim 1  wherein the beads have diameters ranging from about 1 mm to about 4 mm. 
   
   
       8 . The composite material of  claim 1  wherein the beads are solid. 
   
   
       9 . The composite material of  claim 1  wherein the beads are hollow. 
   
   
       10 . The composite material of  claim 1  wherein the beads are made of either a ceramic material, a glass material, or a plastic material. 
   
   
       11 . The composite material of  claim 1  wherein the beads have one or more holes passing through their bodies. 
   
   
       12 . The composite material of  claim 1  wherein the beads are made of either a thermosetting material or a thermoplastic material. 
   
   
       13 . The composite material of  claim 1  wherein the adhesive is made from a two part resin. 
   
   
       14 . The composite material of  claim 1  wherein the adhesive is made from either a thermosetting synthetic resin or a thermoplastic synthetic material. 
   
   
       15 . The composite material of  claim 1  wherein the beads are either spherical or ellipsoid in shape. 
   
   
       16 . The composite material of  claim 1  wherein the beads are made of different polymeric materials. 
   
   
       17 . The composite material of  claim 1  wherein the material is placed in either a cloth-like casing or a net-like casing. 
   
   
       18 . The composite material of  claim 1  wherein the material is used in conjunction with a hard plastic, outer shell. 
   
   
       19 . The composite material of  claim 1  wherein at least 50 percent of the beads are at least 80 percent covered by the adhesive.