Article comprising a fine-grained metallic material and a polymeric material

• US 7,354,354 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2005
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Integran Technologies Incorporated (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Integran Technologies Incorporated (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: McCrea, Jonathan, Tomantschger, Klaus, Panagiotopoulos, Konstantinos, Limoges, Dave, Jeong, Daehyun, Erb, Uwe, Palumbo, Gino, Brooks, Iain, Wang, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAU, STEPHEN LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US11/300,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20060135282A1
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 977890-893, 473/320
• US Class Current: 473/320
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 87/00 Fishing rods
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 9/00 Details
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/023 Long, oriented fibres, e.g. wound filaments, woven fabrics, mats
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 49/10 made of non-metallic materials, other than wood
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 49/12 made of metal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/10 Non-metallic shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/12 Metallic shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/00 Bats, rackets, or the like, not covered by groups A63B49/00 - A63B57/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/50 Substantially rod-shaped bats for hitting a ball in the air, e.g. for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 26/00 Coating not provided for in groups C23C2/00 - C23C24/00
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 15/02 Combined electrolytic and electrophoretic processes with charged materials
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 5/605 Surface topography of the layers, e.g. rough, dendritic or nodular layers
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 7/00 Electroplating characterised by the article coated
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/30 : of plastics , i.e. the cartridge-case tube is of plastics
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 : Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12049 : Nonmetal component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12201 : Width or thickness variation or marginal cuts repeating longitudinally
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12569 : Synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1321 : Polymer or resin containing [i.e., natural or synthetic]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24612 : Composite web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249941 : Fiber is on the surface of a polymeric matrix having no embedded portion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31507 : Of polycarbonate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31511 : Of epoxy ether
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31681 : Next to polyester, polyamide or polyimide [e.g., alkyd, glue, or nylon, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31685 : Natural source polyamide [e.g., casein, gelatin, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31692 : Next to addition polymer from unsaturated monomers

Abstract

Lightweight articles comprising a polymeric material at least partially coated with a fine-grained metallic material are disclosed. The fine-grained metallic material has an average grain size of 2 nm to 5,000 nm, a thickness between 25 micron and 5 cm, and a hardness between 200 VHN and 3,000 VHN. The lightweight articles are strong and ductile and exhibit high coefficients of restitution and a high stiffness and are particularly suitable for a variety of applications including aerospace and automotive parts, sporting goods, and the like.

Claims

1. An article comprising a golf club shaft having a yield strength of at least 25 MPa comprising:

(i) a fine grained metallic layer comprising Ni having a grain size in the range of 2 to 5,000 nm, a hardness between 200 VHN and 3,000 VHN, a thickness ranging from 30 microns to 5 cm, a modulus of resilience ranging from 0.25 to 25 MPa;

the weight of said fine grained metallic layer ranging from 5% to 95% of the weight of said golf club shaft and wherein said fine-grained metallic layer covers at least part of an inner or outer surface of the article,

(ii) a polymer substrate having an average surface roughness of Ra 0.25 to 25 micron,

(iii) a conductive metallic layer which is made of Ni or Ag and which is substantially thinner than (i); and

said article having a torsional stiffness per unit weight improved by at least 5% when compared to the torsional stiffness per unit weight of an article the same but not containing (i).