Laminate composite fabric

• US 6,908,528 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2001
• Issued: 06/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trelleborg Coated Systems US, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Trelleborg Coated Systems US, Inc.
• Inventors: Hayes, James F.
• Primary Examiner(s): LORENGO, JERRY A
• Application Number:
  US09/919,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20030027474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,419 Days
• Field of Search: 156/289, 156/307.1, 156/308.6, 156/310, 156/331.1, 156/331.7, 156/307.3, 427/301, 427/302, 427/303, 427/304, 427/305, 427/306, 442/149, 442/150, 442/151
• US Class Current: 156/307.1
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/12 next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23514 coated fabric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2738 Coating or impregnation intended to function as an adhesive to solid surfaces subsequently associated therewith

Abstract

A laminated composite fabric material used for example in the manufacture of automobile air bags has at least one thermoplastic coating layer that is pressure laminated to a pre-treated fabric using an adhesive. The fabric, pre-treated with a curing agent such as an alkyl ether amine, resists penetration by the adhesive, resulting in a softer, more pliable composite fabric. The composite fabric also optionally includes a layer comprising a silicone polyurethane copolymer or acrylic cross-linked with a blocked isocyanate, which functions as a non-stick coating. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a laminated composite fabric.

Claims

1. A process for manufacturing a coated fibrous fabric comprising:

coating a fabric with a curing compound that increases viscosity of an adhesive;

applying an adhesive to the coated fabric; and

pressure laminating a thermoplastic film to the adhesive-coated fabric, wherein the curing compound comprises at least two amine moieties per molecule of curing agent, and reduces penetration of the adhesive into the fabric compared with a coated fabric manufactured without the curing compound.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the compound adheres to the fibers and thereby substantially prevents the adhesive from physically entering the fabric.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the curing compound increases the viscosity of the adhesive contacting the fabric and thereby substantially preventing the adhesive from entering the fabric.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the compound is a cross linking agent, which cross links the adhesive contacting the fabric and thereby substantially prevents the adhesive from entering the fabric.

5. The process of claim 3 wherein the coated fibrous fabric further comprises a silicone- or acrylicic-containing compound or mixture thereof applied to the film in an amount sufficient to ensure no sticking or blocking under heat and pressure of the coated fibrous fabric.