Systems and methods for the transfer of color and other physical properties to fibers, braids, laminate composite materials, and other articles

Abstract

A method of transferring a dye to a fiber, braid or composite material comprising applying the dye to a transfer paper to create a dye transfer paper, placing the colored transfer media into contact with the fiber, braid or composite material over an expandable rig or expanding structure such as a metal tube, and applying at least one of heat, pressure, or vacuum to infuse the dye to the fiber, braid or composite material, creating a colored fiber, braid or composite material having minimal to no adverse changes to the physical properties of the fiber, braid or composite material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 ) A method of transferring a dye to a fiber, braid or composite material, the method comprising:
 applying the dye to one side of a transfer media to create a dye transfer media;   wrapping the dye transfer media onto an expandable rig or expanding structure such that the dye side of the dye transfer media remains exposed;   wrapping said fiber, braid or composite material over the dye transfer media; and   applying at least one of heat, external force, external pressure and vacuum pressure to infuse the dye to the fiber, braid or composite material to create a colored fiber, braid or composite material.   
     
     
         2 ) The method of  claim 1 , further comprising expanding the expandable rig to pre-tension said fiber, braid or composite material prior to said step of applying at least one of heat, external force, external pressure and vacuum pressure. 
     
     
         3 ) The method of  claim 1 , wherein said expanding structure comprises a tube having a coefficient of thermal expansion between 5×10 −6 /K and 30×10 −6 /K, whereby a temperature increase of at least 10° C. is applied in the method. 
     
     
         4 ) The method of  claim 3 , wherein said tube comprises glass, metal, granite, concrete or quartz. 
     
     
         5 ) The method of  claim 4 , wherein said metal comprises aluminum, copper, pure iron, cast iron, lead, nickel, palladium or stainless steel. 
     
     
         6 ) The method of  claim 1 , wherein said fiber, braid or composite material comprises UHMWPE fibers. 
     
     
         7 ) The method of  claim 1 , further comprising cooling the fiber, braid or composite material to a temperature such that the fiber, braid or composite material maintains a desired shape. 
     
     
         8 ) The method of  claim 1 , further comprising curing the dye, by applying at least one ultraviolet or electron beam radiation, to the fiber, braid or composite material. 
     
     
         9 ) The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adding a coating to the fiber, braid or composite material. 
     
     
         10 ) The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adding a film to the fiber, braid or composite material. 
     
     
         11 ) The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adding a nylon coating and a urethane coating to the fiber, braid or composite material. 
     
     
         12 ) The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composite material is at least one of a non-woven and woven material. 
     
     
         13 ) The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transfer media is at least one of transfer paper, transfer laminate, or transfer film. 
     
     
         14 ) The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dye is applied to the transfer media in the shape of a pattern, graphic or logo, and wherein the colored fiber, braid or composite material is infused with a matching pattern, graphic or logo, respectively. 
     
     
         15 ) The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adding an additional layer of dye transfer media onto said fiber, braid or composite material prior to said step of applying at least one of heat, external force, external pressure and vacuum pressure. 
     
     
         16 ) A method of transferring a dye to a fiber, the method comprising:
 applying the dye to one side of a transfer media to create a dye transfer media;   wrapping the dye transfer media onto an expandable rig such that the dye side of the dye transfer media remains exposed;   winding said fiber over the dye transfer media;   expanding said expandable rig to pre-tension said fiber at 20° C. to a force of 1-30% of the break strength of said fiber; and   applying at least one of heat, external force, external pressure and vacuum pressure to infuse the dye into the fiber to create a colored fiber.   
     
     
         17 ) The method of  claim 16 , wherein said fiber comprises UHMWPE. 
     
     
         18 ) The method of  claim 17 , wherein said step of applying at least one of heat, external force, external pressure and vacuum pressure comprises heating to between 275 and 280° F. 
     
     
         19 ) A method of transferring a dye to a fiber, the method comprising:
 applying the dye to one side of a transfer media to create a dye transfer media;   wrapping the dye transfer media onto a tube such that the dye side of the dye transfer media remains exposed, said tube having a coefficient of thermal expansion between 5×10 −6 /K and 30×10 −6 /K and an ID approximately 20 times the wall thickness;   winding said fiber around side tube over the dye transfer media; and   applying at least one of heat, external force, external pressure and vacuum pressure to infuse the dye into the fiber to create a colored fiber,   whereby a temperature increase of at least 10° C. is applied in the method.   
     
     
         20 ) The method of  claim 19 , wherein said fiber comprises UHMWPE and said tube comprises aluminum.