COATED HIGH STRENGTH FIBERS

• US 20120198808A1
• Filed: 07/26/2010
• Published: 08/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avient Protective Materials BV (Avient Corp.)
• Original Assignee: DSM IP Assets BV (DSM-Firmenich AG)
• Inventors: Bosman, Rigobert, Schneiders, Hans, Aben, Gerardus
• Granted Patent: US 8,881,496 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 57/1.R
• CPC Class Codes: D04C 1/12 Cords, lines, or tows
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 15/643 containing silicon in the main chain
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 1/025 comprising high modulus, or high tenacity, polymer filaments or fibres, e.g. liquid-crystal polymers
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 1/14 Ropes or cables with incorporated auxiliary elements, e.g. for marking, extending throughout the length of the rope or cable
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 1/142 for ropes or rope components built-up from fibrous or filamentary material
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 1/147 comprising electric conductors or elements for information transfer D07B1/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2201/1004 General structure or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2201/102 including a core
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2201/104 twisted
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2201/1092 Parallel strands
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2201/1096 braided
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2201/2012 comprising polymers
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2201/2036 characterised by the use of different wires or filaments
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2201/2041 characterised by the materials used
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2201/2044 comprising polymers
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2201/2076 having a lubricant function
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2201/2087 being of the coated type
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2201/2088 having multiple layers
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2205/2014 High performance polyolefins, e.g. Dyneema or Spectra
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2205/2046 Polyamides, e.g. nylons
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2205/205 : Aramides
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2205/2071 : Fluor resins
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2205/2096 : Poly-p-phenylenebenzo-bisoxazole [PBO]
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2205/3021 : Metals
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2205/507 : Solid lubricants
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2207/404 : Heat treating devices; Corresponding methods
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2207/4045 : to change the crystal structure of the load bearing material
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2207/4072 : Means for mechanically reducing serpentining or mechanically killing of rope
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2401/206 : Improving radial flexibility
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2401/207 : internally
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2501/2038 : Agriculture, forestry and fishery
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2501/2061 : Ship moorings
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2801/10 : Smallest filamentary entity of a rope or strand, i.e. wire, filament, fiber or yarn
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2801/60 : Method
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 5/12 : of low twist or low tension by processes comprising setting or straightening treatments
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2958 : Metal or metal compound in coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2962 : Silane, silicone or siloxane in coating

Abstract

The invention relates to a high strength fibers comprising a coating of cross-linked silicone polymer, and ropes made thereof. The fibers are preferably high performance polyethylene (HPPE) fibers. The coating comprising a cross-linked silicone polymer is made from a coating composition comprising a cross-linkable silicone polymer. The rope shows markedly improved service life performance in bending applications such as cyclic bend-over-sheave applications. The invention also relates to the use of a cross-linked silicone polymer in a rope for an improvement of bend fatigue resistance.

Claims

1. A high strength fiber coated with a cross-linked silicone polymer.

2. The high strength fiber according to claim 1, which is a high performance polyethylene (HPPE) fiber.

3. The high strength fiber according to claim 2, wherein the fiber is made of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) having an intrinsic viscosity of at least 5 dl/g determined in decalin at 135°

C.

4. The high strength fiber according to claim 1, wherein the degree of cross-linking of the cross-linked silicone polymer is at least 20%, preferably at least 30%.

5. The high strength fiber according to claim 1, wherein the coating comprising the cross-linked silicone polymer is obtained by applying to the fiber, a coating composition comprising a cross-linkable silicone polymer;

and cross-linking the cross-linkable silicone polymer.

6. The high strength fiber according to claim 5, wherein the cross-linkable silicone polymer comprises a silicone polymer having a cross-linkable end-group, preferably an C₂-C₆ alkylene end group.

7. The high strength fiber according to claim 6, wherein the cross-linkable end-group is a vinyl group.

8. The high strength fiber according to claim 5, wherein the cross-linkable silicone polymer has the formula:

CH₂═

CH—

(Si(CHs)₂O)_n—

CH═

CH₂ 

 

(1)

wherein n is a number from 2 to 200.

9. The high strength fiber according to claim 5, wherein the coating composition further comprises a cross-linker having the formula:

Si(CH₃)₃O—

(SiCH₃HO)_m—

Si(CH₃)₃ 

 

(2)

wherein m is a number of 2 to 200.

10. The high strength fiber according to claim 5, wherein the coating composition further comprises a platinum catalyst.

13. Use of a high strength fiber according to claim 1 for making a rope with improved bending fatigue resistance.

14. Use of a high strength fiber according to claim 1 for making a fishing net.

11. A rope comprising high strength fibers, preferably including HPPE fibers, wherein the rope is provided with a coating comprising a cross-linked silicone polymer.

12. A strand comprising high strength fibers, preferably including HPPE fibers, wherein the strand is provided with a coating comprising a cross-linked silicone polymer.

15. A method of making coated high strength fibers, comprising the steps of:

a) applying a coating composition comprising a cross-linkable silicone polymer to the high strength fibers;

b) cross-linking the silicone polymer.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein the high strength fibers are HPPE fibers.

16. A method of making a rope comprising high strength fibers, comprising the steps of:

a) applying a coating composition comprising a cross-linkable silicone polymer to the high strength fibers;

b) cross-linking the silicone polymer;

c) constructing a rope from the coated fibers obtained in step b).