Rebar tie wire with bonded coating and method of making the same

Abstract

A method of manufacturing rebar tie wire, including heating and mixing a high density polyethylene (HDPE), a bonding agent, and a coloring agent to form a mixture, heating an inner wire portion, coating the inner wire portion with the mixture to form a coated inner wire portion, and quenching the coated inner wire portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing rebar tie wire, comprising: 
 heating and mixing a high density polyethylene (HDPE), a bonding agent, and a coloring agent to form a mixture;   heating an inner wire portion;   coating the inner wire portion with the mixture to form a coated inner wire portion; and   quenching the coated inner wire portion.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the mixture comprises at least 85% HDPE by weight. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the mixture comprises: 
 at least 85% HDPE by weight; and   at least 3% bonding agent by weight.   
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bonding agent is a reactive adhesive. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bonding agent is an anhydride modified high density polyethylene. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the step of heating the inner wire portion comprises: 
 heating the inner wire portion to a temperature in the range of 280°F to 350°F.   
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the step of heating the inner wire portion comprises: 
 heating the inner wire portion to a temperature in the range of 320°F to 340°F.   
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the step of heating the inner wire portion comprises: 
 heating the inner wire portion to a temperature of at least 300°F.   
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 prior to the step of heating the inner wire portion, cleaning the inner wire portion.   
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 prior to the step of heating the inner wire portion, applying a lubricant to the inner wire portion.   
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the lubricant is selected from the group consisting of neat oil, water-miscible solvent, and solution synthetic lubricant. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the step of coating the inner wire portion with the mixture to form the coated inner wire portion comprises: 
 applying the mixture to the inner wire portion at a temperature in the range of 400°F to 500°F.   
     
     
         13 . A method of manufacturing rebar tie wire, comprising: 
 heating and mixing a high density polyethylene (HDPE) and a bonding agent to form a mixture;   heating an inner wire portion;   coating the inner wire portion with the mixture to form a coated inner wire portion; and   quenching the coated inner wire portion.   
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the mixture comprises at least 85% HDPE by weight. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the bonding agent is a reactive adhesive. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the bonding agent is an anhydride modified high density polyethylene. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the step of heating the inner wire portion comprises: 
 heating the inner wire portion to a temperature in the range of 280°F to 350°F.   
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 prior to the step of heating the inner wire portion, applying a lubricant to the inner wire portion.   
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the step of coating the inner wire portion with the mixture to form the coated inner wire portion comprises: 
 applying the mixture to the inner wire portion at a temperature in the range of 400°F to 500°F.   
     
     
         20 . A method of manufacturing rebar tie wire, comprising: 
 heating and mixing a high density polyethylene (HDPE) and a bonding agent to form a mixture, wherein the mixture comprises at least 85% HDPE by weight;   heating an inner wire portion; and   coating the inner wire portion with the mixture to form a coated inner wire portion.