Self-repairing, reinforced matrix materials
First Claim
1. A shaped article comprising:
- a shaped matrix material having at least one release vessel disposed therein, said release vessel having a releasable modifying agent contained therein and maintaining the modifying agent within the release vessel until released and releasing the modifying agent from the release vessel in the matrix material in response to at least one external stimulus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Self-repairing, fiber reinforced matrix materials include a matrix material including inorganic as well as organic matrices. Disposed within the matrix are hollow fibers having a selectively releasable modifying agent contained therein. The hollow fibers may be inorganic or organic and of any desired length, wall thickness or cross-sectional configuration. The modifying agent is selected from materials capable of beneficially modifying the matrix fiber composite after curing. The modifying agents are selectively released into the surrounding matrix in use in response to a predetermined stimulus be it internal or externally applied. The hollow fibers may be closed off or even coated to provide a way to keep the modifying agent in the fibers until the appropriate time for selective release occurs. Self-repair, smart fiber matrix composite materials capable of repairing microcracks, releasing corrosion inhibitors or permeability modifiers are described as preferred embodiments in concrete and polymer based shaped articles.
137 Citations
144 Claims
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1. A shaped article comprising:
a shaped matrix material having at least one release vessel disposed therein, said release vessel having a releasable modifying agent contained therein and maintaining the modifying agent within the release vessel until released and releasing the modifying agent from the release vessel in the matrix material in response to at least one external stimulus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144)
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50. An additive for providing self repairing capabilities and improving final cure properties of a shapeable matrix composition, said additive comprising:
a release vessel having a modifying agent releasably maintained therein and permitting release of the modifying agent from the release vessel into a matrix material in which the release vessel has been added in response to at least one external stimulus. - View Dependent Claims (51)
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52. A shaped article comprising:
a shaped article including an organic polymer matrix material having at lease one release vessel disposed therein, the release vessel releasably maintaining a modifying agent therein until the shaped article is acted upon by an external stimulus, whereupon, in response to the external stimulus, the modifying agent may be released from the release vessel into the matrix material to cause a structural change in the shaped article.
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53. A shaped article comprising:
a body comprising a continuous phase and a discontinuous phase disposed in the continuous phase, the discontinuous phase comprising at least one release vessel releasably maintaining a modifying agent therein and releasing the modifying agent into the continuous phase in response to an external stimulus.
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61. A shaped article comprising:
a shaped article including a polymer matrix material having at least one hollow fiber disposed therein, the hollow fiber having a releasable modifying agent contained therein and maintaining the modifying agent within the hollow fiber until released and releasing the modifying agent from the hollow fiber into the matrix material in response to at least one external stimulus. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76)
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77. A method for making a self-repairing shaped article comprising the steps of:
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providing a shapeable polymer matrix material;
providing at least one release vessel having a releasable modifying agent contained therein and maintaining the modifying agent within the release vessel until released and releasing the modifying agent from the release vessel into a polymer matrix material to which the release vessel has been added in response to at least one external stimulus;
admixing the shapeable polymer matrix material and the at least one release vessel to form a shapeable mixture; and
thereafter shaping the shapeable mixture to form a shaped article in which modifying agent may be released from the release vessel in response to an external stimulus.
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78. A shaped article comprising:
a cured matrix material having a plurality of hollow fibers dispersed therein, said hollow fibers having a releasable modifying agent contained therein and maintaining the modifying agent within the fibers until released and permitting release of the modifying agent into the matrix material in response to at least one external stimulus. - View Dependent Claims (79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89)
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90. A method for making a shaped article comprising the steps of:
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preparing a curable matrix material in an uncured state;
adding to the uncured matrix material at least one hollow fiber having a releasable modifying agent contained therein to provide a filled hollow fiber containing matrix material and shaping and curing the filled hollow fiber containing matrix material to provide a shaped article in which the modifying agent may be released from the at least one hollow fiber in response to an external stimulus.
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91. An additive for improving final cured properties of a curable matrix composition, said additive comprising:
a hollow fiber having a releasable modifying agent contained therein and maintaining the modifying agent within the fiber until released and permitting release of the modifying agent into a matrix material in which the hollow fiber has been added in response to at least one external stimulus. - View Dependent Claims (92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97)
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98. A shaped article comprising:
a shaped matrix material having at least one hollow fiber disposed therein, said hollow fiber having a releasable modifying agent contained therein and maintaining the modifying agent within the fiber until released and releasing the modifying agent from the fiber into the matrix material in response to at least one external stimulus. - View Dependent Claims (99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128)
Specification