Nylon coated uhmwpe fibres with improved properties and apparatus for coating same

Abstract

A composition comprising an inner core of UHMWPE fibres having a molecular weight greater than 500,000 Daltons with a denier of from about 700 to about 3000, preferably from about 1000 to about 2500, more preferably from about 1500 to about 2000, most preferably from about 1500 to about 1800, with an overall thickness of 0.2 to 0.8 mm and a nylon coating.

1 . A composition comprising an inner core of UHMWPE fibres having a molecular weight greater than 500,000 Daltons with a denier of from about 700 to about 3000, preferably from about 1000 to about 2500, more preferably from about 1500 to about 2000, most preferably from about 1500 to about 1800, with an overall thickness of 0.2 to 0.8 mm and a nylon coating. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the UHMWPE fibres coated with nylon, has a diameter of 0.5-2.0 mm preferably, 0.8-1.0 mm. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein the nylon coating comprises from 5 to 50% wt of the fibre, preferably 10 to 30% wt, more preferably 15 to 25% wt, most preferably about 20% wt. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3  wherein the UHMWPE fibres has a diameter of 0.6 mm and an outer nylon coating of 0.3 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the nylon coating comprises nylon selected from the group consisting of nylon 6,6, nylon 6,12, nylon 6 and nylon 5,10. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein the nylon coating comprises nylon selected from the group consisting of nylon 6,6, nylon 6,12, nylon 6 and nylon 5,10. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 4  wherein the nylon coating comprises nylon selected from the group consisting of nylon 6,6, nylon 6,12, nylon 6 and nylon 5,10. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1  with a density of from about 0.9 to about 1.1 g/mL. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 2  with a density of from about 0.9 to about 1.1 g/mL. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 3  with a density of from about 0.9 to about 1.1 g/mL. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 4  with a density of from about 0.9 to about 1.1 g/mL. 
     
     
         12 . A process for preparing a coated UHMWPE fibre using an alcohol soluble nylon selected from the group of nylon 6,6, nylon 6,12, nylon 6, and nylon 5,10 and the alcohol is selected from the group of lower alkanols selected from the group consisting of: methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol and cyclohexanol. 
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 12  wherein the nylon solution is a nylon in alcohol solution, wherein there is 0.1 to 20% wt of nylon in the solution, preferably 3 to 15% wt and more preferably about 5% wt of nylon in the solution. 
     
     
         14 . A process for preparing a coated UHMWPE fibre comprising
 a. contacting a UHMWPE fibre (or fibres) with a nylon alcoholic solution prepared in the presence of a salt selected from the group consisting of CaCl 2  which is contacted with UHMWPE fibres for a predetermined period of time to allow coating of said UHMWPE,   b. washing said coated UHMWPE fibre to substantially remove CaCl 2  from said coated UHMWPE fibre and further precipitate the nylon on the UHMWPE fibre,   c. drying said coated UHMWPE fibre.   
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 14  wherein said nylon alcoholic solution has a nylon concentration of about 0.1 M to 0.3 M and preferably 0.2 M. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 15  wherein said nylon alcoholic solution is selected from a nylon 6,6 methanolic solution or a nylon 6,6 methanolic solution, preferably in a ratio of 1:4:20 Nylon, Calcium Chloride, methanol. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 16  wherein the UHMWPE fibres are passed (dip coated) through a 0.5-2 mm die, wherein said die is coated with the nylon alcoholic solution. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 16  wherein said washing is conducted in distilled deionized water, to remove CaCl 2  and further precipitate the nylon on the fibres. 
     
     
         19 . The use of the composition of  claim 1  in an anti-ballistic material. 
     
     
         20 . The nylon coated UHMWPE fibre prepared by the process of  claims 12 , further coated with a Shear Thickening Fluid (STF) resulting in a light antiballistic material preferably 30% to 50% lighter then traditional aramid STF coated material. 
     
     
         21 . The nylon coated UHMWPE fibre prepared by the process of  claim 13 , further coated with a Shear Thickening Fluid (STF) resulting in a light antiballistic material preferably 30% to 50% lighter then traditional aramid STF coated material. 
     
     
         22 . The nylon coated UHMWPE fibre prepared by the process of  claim 14 , further coated with a Shear Thickening Fluid (STF) resulting in a light antiballistic material preferably 30% to 50% lighter then traditional aramid STF coated material.