EP3274501A1 - Systèmes et procédés pour le transfert de couleur et d'autres propriétés physiques sur des fibres, des tresses, des matériaux composites stratifiés, et d'autres articles - Google Patents

Systèmes et procédés pour le transfert de couleur et d'autres propriétés physiques sur des fibres, des tresses, des matériaux composites stratifiés, et d'autres articles

Info

Publication number
EP3274501A1
EP3274501A1 EP16734729.3A EP16734729A EP3274501A1 EP 3274501 A1 EP3274501 A1 EP 3274501A1 EP 16734729 A EP16734729 A EP 16734729A EP 3274501 A1 EP3274501 A1 EP 3274501A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fiber
dye
braid
composite material
fibers
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP16734729.3A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Christopher Michael Adams
Jon Michael HOLWEGER
Roland Joseph DOWNS
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
DSM IP Assets BV
Original Assignee
DSM IP Assets BV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by DSM IP Assets BV filed Critical DSM IP Assets BV
Publication of EP3274501A1 publication Critical patent/EP3274501A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06P—DYEING OR PRINTING TEXTILES; DYEING LEATHER, FURS OR SOLID MACROMOLECULAR SUBSTANCES IN ANY FORM
    • D06P5/00—Other features in dyeing or printing textiles, or dyeing leather, furs, or solid macromolecular substances in any form
    • D06P5/003—Transfer printing
    • D06P5/004—Transfer printing using subliming dyes
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06P—DYEING OR PRINTING TEXTILES; DYEING LEATHER, FURS OR SOLID MACROMOLECULAR SUBSTANCES IN ANY FORM
    • D06P3/00—Special processes of dyeing or printing textiles, or dyeing leather, furs, or solid macromolecular substances in any form, classified according to the material treated
    • D06P3/79—Polyolefins
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06P—DYEING OR PRINTING TEXTILES; DYEING LEATHER, FURS OR SOLID MACROMOLECULAR SUBSTANCES IN ANY FORM
    • D06P5/00—Other features in dyeing or printing textiles, or dyeing leather, furs, or solid macromolecular substances in any form
    • D06P5/003—Transfer printing
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06P—DYEING OR PRINTING TEXTILES; DYEING LEATHER, FURS OR SOLID MACROMOLECULAR SUBSTANCES IN ANY FORM
    • D06P5/00—Other features in dyeing or printing textiles, or dyeing leather, furs, or solid macromolecular substances in any form
    • D06P5/20—Physical treatments affecting dyeing, e.g. ultrasonic or electric
    • D06P5/2005—Treatments with alpha, beta, gamma or other rays, e.g. stimulated rays
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06P—DYEING OR PRINTING TEXTILES; DYEING LEATHER, FURS OR SOLID MACROMOLECULAR SUBSTANCES IN ANY FORM
    • D06P5/00—Other features in dyeing or printing textiles, or dyeing leather, furs, or solid macromolecular substances in any form
    • D06P5/20—Physical treatments affecting dyeing, e.g. ultrasonic or electric
    • D06P5/2022—Textile treatments at reduced pression, i.e. lower than 1 atm
    • D06P5/2033—Textile treatments at reduced pression, i.e. lower than 1 atm during dyeing
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06P—DYEING OR PRINTING TEXTILES; DYEING LEATHER, FURS OR SOLID MACROMOLECULAR SUBSTANCES IN ANY FORM
    • D06P5/00—Other features in dyeing or printing textiles, or dyeing leather, furs, or solid macromolecular substances in any form
    • D06P5/20—Physical treatments affecting dyeing, e.g. ultrasonic or electric
    • D06P5/2044—Textile treatments at a pression higher than 1 atm
    • D06P5/2055—Textile treatments at a pression higher than 1 atm during dyeing
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06P—DYEING OR PRINTING TEXTILES; DYEING LEATHER, FURS OR SOLID MACROMOLECULAR SUBSTANCES IN ANY FORM
    • D06P5/00—Other features in dyeing or printing textiles, or dyeing leather, furs, or solid macromolecular substances in any form
    • D06P5/20—Physical treatments affecting dyeing, e.g. ultrasonic or electric
    • D06P5/2066—Thermic treatments of textile materials
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06P—DYEING OR PRINTING TEXTILES; DYEING LEATHER, FURS OR SOLID MACROMOLECULAR SUBSTANCES IN ANY FORM
    • D06P7/00—Dyeing or printing processes combined with mechanical treatment
    • D06P7/005—Dyeing combined with texturising or drawing treatments

Definitions

  • TITLE SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR THE TRANSFER OF COLOR
  • This invention relates to providing a system and method relating to coloring individual fibers, braids and laminate materials generally.
  • laminated reinforced materials are plain in color and not conducive to being dyed or colored.
  • One known technique for adding color to laminated material is to paint the material.
  • painting the material has the downside of the paint flaking off through use and fading in sunlight over time.
  • These drawbacks can be very pronounced in flexible laminate material.
  • laminated reinforced materials are combined with additional layers of films or other materials to produce a fiber reinforced flexible fabric.
  • the other additional materials may include a more traditional woven cloth that is capable of being dyed. Materials of this type are generally found in applications requiring high performance and visual or cosmetic appearance is secondary. The typical accepted appearance is plain, as manufactured, and/or lacking visual coloration, patterns, or graphics.
  • Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers have been traditionally available in one and only one color, namely translucent white. Such fibers are sold, for example, under the brand names Dyneema® and Spectra®. Limitation of UHMWPE fibers to only one shade of white has limited the suitability of UHMWPE fibers in many areas where it otherwise has applicability but cannot meet the requirements for an end use product that needs a color other than white to meet necessary product requirements or specifications.
  • the UHMWPE material comprises any one of a fiber, a braid, and a laminate composite material.
  • the UHMWPE material colored per the methods herein may comprise drawn UHMWPE fibers made through gel spun technology, such as Dyneema® fibers. Coloration methods in accordance with the disclosure allow infusion of colorant into gel spun UHMWPE fibers themselves under controlled conditions of heat and pressure.
  • various embodiments of the dye sublimation coloration method herein can be implemented after the fibers are spun from the polymer solution, at many points in the fiber or braid manufacturing process, using a wide number of readily available coating or transfer methods in a wide range of colors. This processing flexibility enhances the utility, practicality and economic efficiency of the process while allowing the color to be applied at a point in the product stream that streamlines and simplifies inventory and process flow.
  • UHMWPE fibers and braids were colored with two (2) or more colors, in multiple sections along each fiber or fiber braid, (a) without reducing the tensile strength of the fiber/braid by more than 10%; (b) without excessive colorant residue; and (c) using no surface coating (just colorant/dye).
  • the method comprises wrapping fibers around an expandable mandrel and allowing the mandrel to expand and tension the fibers during the coloration process.
  • a method of transferring a dye to a composite material comprises: applying the dye to a transfer media to create a colored transfer media; placing the colored transfer media into contact with the composite material; and applying, such as by using an autoclave, at least one of heat, external pressure, and vacuum pressure to infuse the dye to the composite material to create a colored composite material.
  • the method may further comprise cooling the composite material to a temperature such that the composite material maintains a desired shape.
  • the method may further comprise curing the dye, by applying at least one ultraviolet or electron beam radiation, to the composite material.
  • the method may further comprise adding a coating, (such as a polyimide), to the composite material.
  • the method may further comprise adding a polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) film to the composite material and/or nylon and/or urethane coating to the composite material.
  • PVF polyvinyl fluoride
  • a film is used as a color transfer medium remaining as a film coating on a composite material after the colorization process.
  • the composite material comprises a non-woven material or a woven material.
  • the composite material comprises at least one layer of woven material and at least one layer of non-woven material.
  • the transfer media may comprise at least one of transfer paper, transfer laminate, or transfer film.
  • the dye may be applied to the transfer media in the shape of a pattern, graphic or logo, and wherein the composite material is infused with a matching pattern, graphic or logo, respectively.
  • the dye may be applied to the transfer media using direct printing.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a rotary color transfer system
  • FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a heated press color transfer system and corresponding pressure graph;
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of an exemplary heat press process
  • FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate an exemplary embodiment of an autoclave color transfer system and corresponding pressure graph
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a flow chart of an exemplary autoclave process
  • FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a linear color transfer system
  • FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a multilayered color transfer stack
  • FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of an expandable structure in accordance with the present disclosure
  • FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of an autoclave cure schedule for fiber and braid specimens, plotted as temperature versus time for both the autoclave temperature (°F) and the part temperature (°F);
  • FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of an autoclave cure schedule for fiber and braid specimens, plotted as pressure/vacuum versus time for both the autoclave pressure (psi) and the vacuum (psi);
  • FIG. 11 illustrates Spectra® fiber braid tensile test results for as-received material
  • FIG. 12 illustrates Spectra® fiber braid tensile test results for as-received material, in plotted form
  • FIG. 13 illustrates Spectra® fiber 1740 dtex braid tensile test results on dyed material
  • FIG. 14 illustrates Spectra® fiber 1740 dtex braid tensile test results on dyed material, in plotted form
  • FIG. 15 illustrates a plot of Tenacity versus Tensile Strain for as-received Spectra® 1000, 400 denier fibers.
  • FIG. 16 illustrates a plot of Tenacity versus Tensile Strain for dyed Spectra® 1000, 400 denier fibers. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  • fibers, braids, fabrics, and laminated materials are colored in accordance with the present disclosure.
  • Various types of fibers and braids include, for example, Dyneema® or Spectra® brand UHMWPE materials.
  • UHMWPE fibers are colorized and modified by the methods according to the present disclosure.
  • UHMWPE is a type of polyolefin made up of extremely long chains of polyethylene. Trade names include Dyneema® and Spectra®.
  • UHMWPE is also referred to in the industry as either high-modulus polyethylene (HMPE) or high-performance polyethylene (HPPE).
  • the molecular weight (MW) of UHMWPE is often expressed as "Intrinsic Viscosity" (IV), which is typically at least 4 dl/g and preferably at least 8 dl/g. Generally, the IV for UHMWPE is less than about 50 dl/g, and preferably less than about 40 dl/g.
  • the UHMWPE fibers comprise extruded polymer chains. In various embodiments, the UHMWPE fibers comprise pultruded polymer chains.
  • woven materials comprise many low denier tows (i.e., light weight fibers).
  • Woven materials comprise fibers passing over and under each other in a weave pattern that can result in some degree of crimp in the fibers.
  • tensile loading induces transverse loads at fiber overlap sections as crimped fibers attempt to straighten. The transverse loads reduce the translation of fiber strength to fabric strength, and decrease long-term fatigue and creep rupture performance.
  • higher performance engineering fibers have more pronounced crimp-related reduction properties. This is particularly pronounced in fibers with optimization of axial filament properties and reduced transverse properties of the filaments.
  • a composite material is defined as one or more layers of unidirectional fiber and polymer matrix plies oriented in one or more directions.
  • unidirectional fibers in adjacent plies may be offset at an angle between their directions.
  • non-woven composite materials use high denier tows for easier manufacturability.
  • Non-woven composite materials, such as felts comprise fibers that do not pass over and under each other and thus do not have crimp.
  • An advantage of non- woven composite materials is unlimited fiber areal weights, which is the weight of fiber per unit area. In other words, thicker fibers can be used in non-woven materials versus woven materials.
  • non-woven composites Another advantage of non-woven composites is the ability to form composite materials from multiple layers of fibers oriented at any angle relative to fibers in other layers. Furthermore, in an exemplary embodiment, a non-woven composite material is designed with optimal weight, thickness, and strength at particular locations or along predetermined load paths as desired. In addition, non-woven composite materials constructed from high modulus fibers can have predictable and linear properties for engineering designs.
  • a composite material is infused with color during the manufacturing process.
  • the composite material comprises one or more layers of thinly spread high strength fibers such as, for example, UHMWPE, (commercially available as, e.g. Dyneema®), Vectran®; aramid; polyester; carbon fiber; Zylon PBO, or other materials, coated and/or embedded in a resin or other material, or any combination thereof.
  • UHMWPE commercially available as, e.g. Dyneema®
  • Vectran® Vectran®
  • aramid polyester
  • polyester carbon fiber
  • Zylon PBO or other materials, coated and/or embedded in a resin or other material, or any combination thereof.
  • a particular preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to colorization of composite material comprising one or more layers of thinly spread high strength UHMWPE fibers.
  • high strength means a tensile strength of at least 1.5 GPa; preferably 2.5 GPa; more preferably at least 3.6 GPa and most preferably at least 4.2 GPa.
  • Fibers subject to colorization according to the methods disclosed herein may be characterized by various physical properties, in addition to characterization by particular chemical composition. These properties, for example, relate to stretch and strength of the fibers.
  • Tensile properties are defined and determined on multifilament yarns as specified in ASTM D885M, using a nominal gauge length of the fiber of 500 mm, a crosshead speed of 50%/min.
  • the modulus is determined as the gradient between about 0.3 and 1% strain.
  • the tensile forces measured are divided by the titre, as determined by weighing 10 meters of fiber; values in GPa are calculated assuming a density of 0.97 g/cm 3 .
  • Polymers such as used for fibers generally have an "Intrinsic Viscosity" (IV) that can be determined according to ASTM D1601-2004 (at 135° C in decalin), the dissolution time being 16 hours, with DBPC as anti-oxidant in an amount of 2 g/1 solution, by extrapolating the viscosity as measured at different concentrations to zero concentration.
  • IV Intrinsic Viscosity
  • Linear polymers also may be characterized by the amount of side chains present.
  • the number of side chains in a UHMWPE sample is determined by FTIR on a 2 mm thick compression molded film, by quantifying the absorption of infrared radiation at a wavelength of 1375 crrf 1 using a calibration curve based on NMR measurements (as e.g. disclosed in EP 0269151).
  • the infused color may appear as a solid color, a pattern, or any type of graphic such as a picture or logo on one or both sides of the composite material.
  • Other possibilities include manufacturing the composite materials to have stripes, polka dots, figures, shapes, and the like.
  • the laminate films and/or fabrics can also have other tints sublimating or non-sublimating, color bases, modifiers or ultra-violet or color stabilizers pre-incorporated to interact with, synergize, or modify the color process.
  • a colorant usable for sublimation/diffusion in accordance with the present disclosure may comprise a dye or a pigment or combinations thereof.
  • sublimation dyes that find use herein typically range from the following class of dyes: Acid, Vat, Pigment, Disperse, Direct and Reactive Dyes. In various embodiments, Disperse and Direct Dyes are preferred. These dyes are prepared from the chemical class of organic systems that is known as azo, anthroquinone and phthalocyanine dye systems.
  • color possibilities include pigments such as titanium dioxide, carbon black, phthalo blue, quinacridone red, organic yellow, phthalo green, dark yellow ocher, ercolano orange, Venetian red, burnt umber, viridian green, ultramarine blue and pewter grey.
  • pigments such as titanium dioxide, carbon black, phthalo blue, quinacridone red, organic yellow, phthalo green, dark yellow ocher, ercolano orange, Venetian red, burnt umber, viridian green, ultramarine blue and pewter grey.
  • Royal Blue, Aqua Blue, Black, Steelhead Grey Process Yellow, Fire Red, Scarlet Red, Process Red, Rubine Red, Magenta, Navy Blue, Process Blue, and Kelly Green sublimation dyes are useful, and can be used singly or in various combinations for colored patterns.
  • the terms "dye” and “pigment” are used interchangeably herein to refer generally to a colorant for the method.
  • composite materials can also have various coatings added to alter various surface properties of the material.
  • the various coatings can be in addition to, or as alternative to, color dyes added to the material.
  • a film coating is added to the material.
  • the specific film coating can be used to increase or decrease the composite's tensile strength, toughness, chemical and dimensional stability, weld-ability, gas barrier properties, electrical properties, high temperature resistance, ultra-violet or infrared radiation performance, and/or reduce the coefficient of friction.
  • a polyimide coating is added to the composite material. The polyimide coating can alter the electric and dielectric properties of the material.
  • the polyimide coating may be configured to increase the stability of the material properties over a wide range of temperature.
  • a film such as polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) film (Tedlar®) is added to the composite material.
  • PVF film facilitates added weather durability, long term durability, and environmental stability.
  • nylon and urethane coatings both increase toughness and are flexible, along with lower mechanical and permeability properties.
  • a dye transfer medium comprises a dye coated film, which remains behind as a layer of the composite material after the colorization process.
  • a composite material may be layered with woven coatings to create a composite material hybrid.
  • the woven coatings can be incorporated to increase abrasion resistance.
  • a woven coating on a composite material may comprise a Nylon woven layer.
  • the composite material hybrid may be designed to combine the various material properties of the composite material and the coatings to result in a high strength, dimensionally stable flexible composite material.
  • Exemplary applications of composite material hybrids include military applications, such as advanced visual camouflage and/or infrared signature reduction. Another example is use in a ballistic armor vest.
  • sublimation infusion is implemented to achieve various additions to composite materials.
  • the additions may include, for example, color, pattern, and gloss application, specular or infrared reflectivity modification, anti-microbial or medicines, surface adhesion modifiers, nano-material infusion, dielectric modifiers, the printing of conductive metal or polymer materials to add electrical/dielectric conductivity features or electrical circuit patterns, and/or incorporation of fire retardant materials or synergistic components for fire retardant materials in the laminate, surface films, or surface fabrics.
  • ultra-violet stabilizing or curing additives are incorporated into the material. These additives can extend the useful life of the composite material.
  • a fire retardant adhesive or polymer is used with the composite materials.
  • fire retardants may be added to a flammable matrix or membrane to improve the flame resistance of the composite material.
  • Fire retardants may function in several ways, such as endothermic degradation, thermal shielding, dilution of gas phase or gas phase radical quenching.
  • Examples of fire retardant additives include: DOW D.E.R. 593 Brominated Resin, Dow Corning 3 Fire Retardant Resin, and polyurethane resin with Antimony Trioxide (such as EMC-85/10A from PDM Neptec Ltd.), although other fire retardant additives may also be suitable as would be known to one skilled in the art.
  • fire retardant additives that may be used to improve flame resistance include Fyrol FR-2, Fyrol HF-4, Fyrol PNX, Fyrol 6 and SaFRon 7700, although other additives may also be suitable as would be known to one skilled in the art.
  • fire retardancy and self-extinguishing features can also be added to the fibers either by using fire retardant fibers, ceramic or metallic wire filaments, inherent fire retardant fibers, or by coating the fibers.
  • fire retardant fibers include Nomex® or Kevlar®.
  • Inherent fire retardant fibers include fibers that have had fire retardant compounds added directly to the fiber formulation during the fiber manufacturing process.
  • fibers may be coated with a sizing, polymer or adhesive incorporating fire retardant compounds, such as those described herein or other suitable compounds as would be known to one skilled in the art.
  • any woven or scrim materials used in the composite material may be either be pretreated for fire retardancy by the supplier or coated and infused with fire retardant compounds during the manufacturing process.
  • ultra-violet stabilizing or curing additives are incorporated into the composite material. These additives can extend the useful life of the material.
  • the composite materials are assembled as a multilayer composite of outer surface layers, which may be colorized or textured, via any of the various application methods set forth herein.
  • the outer surface layers may be unidirectional plies, films, non-woven fabric or felt, woven cloth, weldable thermoplastic membranes, waterproof breathable membranes and fabric scrims. These outer surface materials may have initial coloring or patterning complementary to the various methods of infusion transfer, sublimation transfer or roll transfer in order to obtain the desired cosmetic or visual effect.
  • various powder tints, colored dyes or sublimation colorants can also be added to the bonding adhesives or the laminating resin component of the unidirectional ply layers.
  • one or more tinted, opaque or light blocking film may be added between one or more laminate ply interfaces.
  • a continuous process is one where material is unrolled at a steady web speed or at steady stepwise stop-and-start rate. The material is assembled, consolidated, colorized, textured and then rewound onto a rewind roll.
  • batch process the composite material constituents and colorants are loaded into a press, vacuum bag or autoclave and then subjected to a heating/curing process.
  • the various methods of dye transfer may include heat transferring from a printed or saturated carrier; direct printing onto laminate or surface films via ink jet or dye sublimation printer; incorporation of dye, tint, or sublimating color or pattern directly onto or into the composite material or matrix; heat transfer onto a composite material or film; and bath or dipping infusion.
  • sublimating ink is used for more resistant and permanent coloring.
  • color is applied to a composite material using a transfer carrier substrate. As an initial step, the transfer carrier is selected, such as a film or paper. The color applied may be a solid color or may be a partem or graphic, which is placed on the transfer carrier.
  • the transfer carrier coloring process may use at least one of an inkjet printer, a gravure roll coater, a slot die coating head, dip bar bath coating, anilox roll coating, knife over roll coater, reverse roll coater, and an air knife coater.
  • application of a solid color to the composite material may be facilitated through direct printing or transfer onto an intended surface, layer, or interface of the laminated material with an autoclave, belt press, vacuum oven, and the like.
  • application of a pattern or graphic to the composite material may be facilitated through use of at least one of an inkjet printer, a sublimation printer, flexo printer process, anilox roll printing, and offset printing.
  • the transfer carrier substrate is in proximity to the composite material, such that heat applied through various methods and systems if a separate carrier is used to transfer, infuse, or sublimate the color or partem onto the composite material.
  • the various systems and processes applied to achieve the color transfer to composite materials include a heated rotary system, a heated press system, an autoclave system, a dye infusion system, a heated linear color transfer system, vacuum oven and matrix pigment tint coloring.
  • a rotary color transfer system 100 comprises a rotating heated roll 110, a tensioned belt 120, a roll of material to receive color 130, and a color transfer carrier 140.
  • Rotary color transfer system 100 is a continuous roll-to-roll process for applying color or graphics to materials 130.
  • the material 130 that receives the color may be fabric, cloth, film, or laminated material.
  • the film or fabric can then be used in the manufacture of composite materials. For example, rolls of finished composite materials, film or fabric precursor may be run through rotary color transfer system 100 to set or infuse the colors.
  • material 130 may be pre-coated or pre-printed with color before being fed through the belt press portion of rotary color transfer system 100.
  • color transfer carrier 140 may be film or paper.
  • the color transfer carrier 140 can be fed from rolls on an unwind and processed through rotary color transfer system 100 to transfer colors or patterns to material 130, such as film, fabrics, and composite materials. Accordingly, tensioned belt 120 is in contact with rotating heated roll 110. Furthermore, material 130 and color transfer carrier 140 are processed in contact with each other and rolled between rotating heating roll 110 and tensioned belt 120.
  • the color can be applied to material 130 via direct printing either in-line or off-line.
  • An in-line process includes applying or coating the colors or patterns to composite material, film or fabrics, or color carrier 140 as part of the belt press portion of rotary color transfer system 100.
  • An offline process includes applying or coating the colors or patterns to laminate, film or fabrics, or color carrier 140 as part of a separate batch process before being set up onto the belt press portion of rotary color transfer system 100.
  • heated rotary belt 120 can be used in-line with a lamination process.
  • the color can be transferred from color transfer carrier 140.
  • a vacuum is established between rotating heated roll 110 and tensioned belt 120 to facilitate color infusion and transfer. Various methods may be used to create the vacuum as would be known to one skilled in the art.
  • color transfer carrier 140 is closest to rotating heated roll 110 and material 130 is closest to tensioned belt 120.
  • material 130 is closest to rotating heated roll 110 and color transfer carrier 140 is closest to tensioned belt 120.
  • material 130 and color transfer carrier 140 are both individual rolls that are unwound, processed through the rotary belt process as described above, and then rewound onto individual rolls.
  • a heated press color transfer system 200 comprises two plates 210 or other similar hard surface, a material to receive the color 220, and a color carrier 230.
  • heated press color transfer system 200 further comprises a pressure intensifier layer 240 made from natural or synthetic rubber.
  • suitable caul rubbers are produced by Torr Technologies or Airtech International.
  • the pressure intensifier layer 240 is coupled to the inside at least one of two plates 210 such that pressure intensifier layer 240 in between two plates 210 and in contact with composite material 220 and/or color carrier 230.
  • pressure intensifier layer 240 has at least some ability to compress.
  • pressure intensifier layer 240 may have a combination of one or more smooth mirror surfaces, smooth matte surface, and a textured or pattern surface to provide a desired surface gloss or texture that complements the colorants.
  • a heat press process 300 includes four primary steps. First, apply a color tint/dye transfer to the color carrier, which may include composite material with a surface film or cloth surface on one or both sides, or may include transfer paper / film carrier (310).
  • the film or cloth surface may incorporate a complementary color or pre-printed pattern, image or design on one or both sides of the laminate.
  • transfer paper / film carrier may contain solid color, one or more color patterns or printed graphics to form an image, design, or picture.
  • the transfer media may also include a smooth or textured surface to impart a surface with a desired degree of gloss or smoothness texture pattern on one or both sides of the colorized surface.
  • the heated press color transfer system further comprises a vacuum to increase the pressure in the process.
  • the exemplary vacuum may be created either by enclosing the press platens within a sealable vacuum chamber or by enclosing the laminate in a vacuum bag system.
  • the applied vacuum can range from about 5 to about 29 inches of mercury (Hg).
  • a vacuum is beneficial to assist in the sublimation colorant into the substrate, to lower the temperature at which sublimation colorant transfer occurs, to remove any trapped air or bubbles from the materials, and to prevent oxidization at higher temperatures.
  • the material may be exposed to ultraviolet or electron beam radiation to cure or set curable tints or dyes.
  • an autoclave color transfer system 400 comprises a rigid or reinforced elastomeric tool plate 410 and, optionally, a rigid or elastomeric caul plate 420 inside a vacuum bag 430.
  • tool plate 410 is typically a stiff plate having a smooth surface while caul plate 420 may be thinner and/or more compliant than tool plate 410.
  • Vacuum bag 430 is made of flexible, impermeable material, or may be a flexible, impermeable elastomeric diaphragm. Alternatively, vacuum bag 430 may be sealed to the side or outer surface of first caul plate 410.
  • Vacuum bag 430 is typically 0.001 - 0.015 inch thick nylon or other film that is sealed with a tape or strip of tacky high temperature caulk.
  • Suitable bag and sealant materials include Airtech Securelon L500Y nylon vacuum bag and TMI Tacky Tape or Aerotech AT-200Y sealant tape.
  • the diaphragms are typically low durometer, high temperature resistant silicone rubber, and generally have a thickness of 0.032 - 0.060 inches.
  • autoclave system 400 further comprises one or more color transfer carriers 440 and a colorant receiving material or laminate 450.
  • Color transfer carrier 440 is placed in contact with receiving material 450, where both are between tool plate 410 and caul plate 420.
  • a permeable felt or non-woven breather material may be included on top of the caul to allow air to flow freely under vacuum bag 430 in order to provide uniform compaction pressure.
  • a suitable breather material is Airtech Airweave 10. The air inside the vacuum bag 430 is removed via a vacuum tap 460, which creates a pressure differential in system 400 to provide compaction pressure on the part inside the vacuum bag 430.
  • vacuum bag 430 may be placed inside a pressurized autoclave 470, such that the hyperbaric pressure inside autoclave 470, external to vacuum bag 430, is raised to a predetermined level.
  • the predetermined level may be ambient atmospheric pressure up to 1000 psi to provide compaction force while the pressure under vacuum bag 430 is maintained at a vacuum of less than 2 to up to about 29 inch Hg.
  • heat is more easily produced in a high-pressure environment and facilitates the transfer of dye to receiving material 450.
  • the temperature inside the autoclave may be set to a predetermined heating rate profile, temperature hold and cool down profile. Typical temperature ramp rates vary from 2-50° F per minute, to temperatures ranging from 70° F to 600° F, with cool down rates ranging from 2-20° F per minute.
  • For the cooling profile cool the material to a temperature such that the finished article remains flat or in the desired shape and such that there is no damage, distortion or delamination of the finished colorized material.
  • the material and color carrier are removed from the autoclave and removed from the bag.
  • autoclave color transfer system 400 is very effective and can be incorporated into a composite material manufacturing process.
  • an autoclave process 500 comprises four primary steps:
  • a color tint/dye transfer to the color carrier, which may include laminate with surface films or cloth surface on one or both sides, or transfer paper / film carrier (510).
  • the film or cloth surface may incorporate a complementary color or preprinted pattern, image or design on either or both sides of the laminate.
  • the transfer paper or media may contain a single color in an uninterrupted area, a single or multi-color pattern, or printed graphics of any color combination to form an image, design or picture.
  • the transfer media may also include a smooth or textured surface to impart a surface with given degree of gloss, smoothness texture pattern on one or both sides of the colorized;
  • the material may be exposed to ultraviolet or electron beam radiation to cure or set curable tints or dyes.
  • a linear color transfer system 600 comprises a rotating horizontal belt press 610, a film or membrane 620, and color transfer carrier 630.
  • the endless rotating belts form a continuous process capable of applying a uniform, continuous consolidation pressure to a Composite Material 650, and color transfer film or paper carrier 630 to maintain intimate contact for infusion or sublimation color transfer.
  • the materials are heated to a sufficient temperature to perform the color infusion in the pressurized heating zone and then cooling the composite material and color transfer media to a temperature that is at or below the safe removal temperature for the composite material.
  • the linear color transfer system 600 may be a continuous roll-to-roll process for applying color or graphics to composite material 650.
  • the composite material 650 that receives the color may be fabric, cloth, film, or laminated material.
  • the film or fabric 620 can then be used in the manufacture of composite materials.
  • a web of assembled layers of rolls of finished Composite Material, film or fabric 620 precursors may be run through linear color transfer system 600 to set or infuse the colors.
  • material 650 may be pre-coated or pre-printed with color before being fed through the belt press portion 610 of the linear color transfer system by means of printer, coater or treater 660.
  • the colorized composite material may then be optionally run through a set of calendar or embossing rolls 670 to apply a smooth shiny or matt surface to the composite material or to apply a texture to one or both outer surfaces.
  • the optional rolls 670 may be heated, chilled, or left at room temperature, depending upon the desired surface finish, surface texture, the exit temperature of the composite material from the belt portion of the press or the specific materials. Typical running speed for the composite material web ranges from 2-250 feet per minute.
  • the rolls 670 and belt sections of the press 610 can be set either for a predetermined gap or a for a preset pressure to the preset roll gaps or with the gaps set to zero with a preset pressure to ensure full consolidation with a given pressure distribution.
  • Typical gap settings range from 0.0002" up to 0.125" and typical pressures range from 5 to 1000 lbf per linear inch of width.
  • the rolls and belt system can be heated to consolidate the materials and/or transfer, infuse or sublimate into one or both sides of the composite material.
  • Individual plies of the composite may be unwound from a roll, laid up on the composite web by hand layup, by automated tape layup or by an automated robotic pick and place operation.
  • Typical heating temperature set points range from 70° F to 550° F.
  • typical heating temperature set points range from 70° F to 550° F.
  • Radiation curing systems such as an E -beam or UV lamp array can be located inline.
  • One advantage of the linear system is that it can integrate the assembly of unidirectional fiber ply layers into a structural reinforcement, the application of the colorant, the incorporation of the various arbitrary internal or surface film layers, non-woven cloth layers and woven layers into a multi-step integrated manufacturing process where base unidirectional fiber plies are converted to finished, colorized roll goods.
  • multilayer composite material color infusion can be performed using either a heated press color transfer system, such as system 200 or an autoclave color transfer system, such as system 400.
  • a multilayered stack comprising multiple caul plates 710, barrier/breather layers 720, color carriers 730 and laminates 740 may be substituted for the single stack of composite material and color carrier described in system 200 and system 400.
  • composite material, surface films and surface fabrics can also have colors incorporated via batch dying or infusion.
  • rolls of composite material, film or fabrics are saturated with color media or tint and placed in a vessel and exposed to an appropriate heat, pressure or vacuum profile to apply to infuse color media.
  • the films or fabrics treated in this manner may then be incorporated into laminates.
  • pigment may be added to the adhesive resin used in the unidirectional fiber ply manufacturing process, thereby resulting in a color infused unidirectional tape subsequently used in the manufacture of the composite material.
  • materials that can be added directly into the adhesive resin include, but are not limited to, titanium dioxide, carbon black, phthalo blue, quinacridone red, organic yellow, phthalo green, dark yellow orcher, ercolano orange, Venetian red, burnt umber, viridian green, ultramarine blue and pewter grey.
  • the colored composite material that results from the use of the colored unidirectional fiber plies may be additionally colored using the before-mentioned processes, namely Heated Rotary System 100, Heated Press System 200/300, Autoclave System 400/500, Linear System 600, Multilayer Laminate Color Infusion 700, and/or Batch Dye Infusion.
  • fibers or braids are under tension during colorization. Tensioning during colorization is believed to draw the fibers to some extent, counteracting the shrinkage of the fibers and negating the added weight of the colorant added per linear length of fiber. Not wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is believed that controlling the inherent shrinking of fibers by tensioning during heating minimizes disturbances of the extended polymer chains in the fibers. Tensioning may be held relatively constant during colorization, or tensioning may vary (increasing or decreasing) during colorization. Also, pre-tensioned fibers, when subsequently exposed to heat during colorization, may relax to some extent, meaning the tension of fibers during colorization may be less than the pre-tensioning applied prior to colorization.
  • fibers or braids are wrapped around an adjustable rig and pre- tensioned to a desired tension (i.e. force) prior to the start of the colorization process.
  • an expandable structure may comprise an expandable tubular construct such as an expansion cylinder having circumferentially arranged segments that are driven apart from one another by the action of, for example, a bolt having a larger diameter than the inside diameter (ID) of the unexpanded segments.
  • ID inside diameter
  • rigs are sometimes referred to as "expansion clamps for ID holding.”
  • More elaborate variations of the rig can include a ratcheting mechanism that pushes paired elements (such as rods) in opposite directions, increasing the distance between the pair, and thus increasing the tension on the fibers or braids wrapped around them.
  • Pre- tensioning of fibers or braids can be to any level of tensioning that is numerically less than the breaking point of the fiber or braid. That is, fibers or braids may be pre-tensioned to a percentage ( ⁇ 100%) of their break strength. For example, for colorizing UHMWPE fibers having a tensile strength of about 3.6 GPa, a pre-tensioning of the fibers at 20 °C to 1-30% of their break strength would equate to pre-tensioning the fibers prior to colorization to a force of 36 MPa to about 0.36 GPa. In various embodiments, fibers are pre-tensioned around a suitable rig at 20 °C to a force equal to 1-30% of the break strength of the fibers.
  • fibers are pre-tensioned at 20 °C to a force equal to 2-20% of the break strength of the fibers. In other embodiments, fibers are pre-tensioned at 20 °C to a force equal to 3-10% of the break strength of the fibers.
  • Dye transfer paper may be placed on the rig prior to winding of the fibers over the paper and prior to the pre-tensioning by the expansion bolt or ratcheting mechanism. In various embodiments, another layer of dye transfer paper is placed over the pre-tensioned fibers. Then the assembled rig with the one or more dye transfer papers on either or both sides of the wound and pre-tensioned fibers is heated to sublime and diffuse the colorant from the transfer paper(s) into the fibers. In other embodiments, fibers are pre-tensioned on a tensioning rig and then the rig is simply submerged in a heated vessel of dye until the tensioned fibers are colored.
  • fibers or braids are wrapped around a structure that expands during the colorization process, in which case the tensioning of the fibers or braids increases from little to no tension at the start of the colorization process up to a desired tension during the colorization process.
  • a structure may expand at a measureable and predictable rate when heated at least about 10 °C above ambient.
  • the diameter of an aluminum tube or mandrel expands at a known rate when heated based on the known coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of aluminum.
  • CTE coefficient of thermal expansion
  • UHMWPE fibers such as Dyneema® fibers
  • the CTE of UHMWPE fibers is about -12 x 10 "6 /K.
  • an expanding structure such as a metal tube
  • Aluminum for example, has a CTE of 22.2 x 10 "6 /K, and thus can be seen to be of the order of magnitude necessary to offset the shrinkage of UHMWPE fibers during the same heating.
  • the CTE of copper is 16.6 x 10 "6 /K, pure iron 12.0 x 10 "6 /K and cast iron 10.4 x 10 "6 /K, and therefore structures, such as tubes, made from these metals are expected to tension UHMWPE fibers during the colorization process wherein at least a 10 °C increase in temperature occurs.
  • the expandable structure comprises a tube made from a material having a CTE of from about 5 x 10 "6 /K to about 30 x 10 "6 /K.
  • the expandable structure is a tube made of glass, metal, granite, concrete or quartz.
  • the metal is chosen from the group consisting of aluminum, copper, pure iron, cast iron, silver, lead, nickel, palladium, and stainless steel.
  • the expandable structure is a glass, metal, granite, concrete or quartz tube having an ID approximately 20 times the wall thickness.
  • the length of the tube is chosen primarily on the basis of practicality, such as the size of the autoclave or other system to be used for applying at least one of heat, pressure, force and vacuum, the scale of the colorization process (e.g. how many meters of fiber to be colored), the width of composite material to be colored, cost of a tube, and the like.
  • dye sublimation colorant saturated commercial transfer papers with solid and patterned colors may be used as the dye transfer medium.
  • these transfer papers are suitable for smaller-scale processes, for production applications, the dye sublimation colorant could be applied directly to the tooling mandrels or process equipment via a wide range of coating methods such as gravure coating.
  • a method of transferring a dye to a fiber, braid or composite material comprises: a) wrapping said fiber, braid or composite material onto an expandable structure; b) applying the dye to a transfer media to create a colored transfer media; c) placing the colored transfer media into contact with the fiber, braid or composite material; and, d) applying at least one of heat, external force, external pressure and vacuum pressure to infuse the dye to the a fiber, braid or composite material to create a colored a fiber, braid or composite material.
  • Temperatures for this process typically range from about 70° F to about 650° F, and pressures range from the minimum to keep materials in intimate contact, typically ambient atmospheric pressure to a maximum of 1000 psi.
  • the temperature of the colorization process is close to, but below, the melting point of the fibers.
  • the colored transfer media is a dye transfer paper with dye on one side.
  • an autoclave can be used in conjunction with the application of heat, force, pressure, and/or vacuum.
  • the expandable structure comprises an adjustable rig that can be expanded at 20 °C to pre-tension the fibers at preferably 1-30%, more preferably 2-20% or most preferably 3-10% of the breaking strength of the fibers prior to colorization.
  • the expandable structure is a tube, e.g. glass, metal, granite, concrete or quartz, which gradually expands when temperature is increased at least 10 °C to tension the fibers during the colorization process and offset the shrinkage of the fibers that would have occurred from the heating.
  • a method of transferring a dye to a fiber, braid or composite material comprises: a) applying the dye to a transfer media to create a dye transfer media; b) wrapping the dye transfer media onto an expandable structure leaving the dye coated side of the dye transfer media exposed; c) wrapping said fiber, braid or composite material onto the expandable structure over the top of and in contact with the dye transfer media; and d) applying at least one of heat, external force, external pressure and vacuum pressure to infuse the dye to the a fiber, braid or composite material to create a colored a fiber, braid or composite material.
  • the colored transfer media is a dye transfer paper with dye on one side.
  • an autoclave can be used in conjunction with the application of heat, pressure, and/or vacuum.
  • the material to be dyed can be directly wound against the expandable structure, (e.g. winding fiber around a metal tube or expandable rig), or alternatively the dye transfer media can be wrapped against the expandable structure, and then fiber, braid or composite wrapped around the dye transfer media such that the dye transfer media is between the expandable structure and the fiber, braid or composite to be dyed.
  • Temperatures for this process typically range from about 70° F to about 650° F, and pressures range from the minimum to keep materials in intimate contact, typically ambient atmospheric pressure to a maximum of 1000 psi. In preferred embodiments, the temperature of the colorization process is close to the melting point of the fibers.
  • the expandable structure comprises an adjustable rig that can be expanded at 20 °C to pre-tension the fibers at preferably 1-30%, more preferably 2-20% or most preferably 3-10% of the breaking strength of the fibers prior to colorization.
  • the expandable structure is a tube, e.g. a metal tube such as aluminum, copper, pure iron or cast iron, which gradually expands when heated to tension the fibers during the colorization process and offset the shrinkage of the fibers that would have occurred from the heating.
  • a method of transferring a dye to a fiber, braid or composite material comprises: a) applying the dye to a transfer media to create a dye transfer media; b) wrapping the dye transfer media onto an expandable structure; c) wrapping said fiber, braid or composite material onto the expandable structure over the top of and in contact with the dye transfer media; d) wrapping additional dye transfer media over said fiber, braid or composite material with the dye coated side in contact with the fiber, braid or composite, and e) applying at least one of heat, external force, external pressure and vacuum pressure to infuse the dye to the fiber, braid or composite material to create a colored fiber, braid or composite material.
  • two layers of dye transfer media may be used to sandwich the fiber, braid or composite material to be dyed, all of which is wound around an expandable structure in layers. Temperatures for this process typically range from about 70° F to about 650° F, and pressures range from the minimum to keep materials in intimate contact, typically ambient atmospheric pressure to a maximum of 1000 psi. In preferred embodiments, the temperature of the colorization process is close to, but below, the melting point of the fibers.
  • the expandable structure comprises an adjustable rig that can be expanded at 20 °C to pre-tension the fibers at preferably 1-30%, more preferably 2-20% or most preferably 3-10% of the breaking strength of the fibers prior to colorization.
  • the expandable structure is a glass, metal, granite, concrete or quartz tube, (e.g. a metal like aluminum, copper, pure iron or cast iron), which gradually expands when increased in temperature at least 10 °C to tension the fibers during the colorization process and offset the shrinkage of the fibers that would have occurred from the heating.
  • a glass, metal, granite, concrete or quartz tube e.g. a metal like aluminum, copper, pure iron or cast iron
  • the expandable structure comprises a metal tube having any wall thickness, diameter and length.
  • the metal tube comprises aluminum, copper, pure iron or cast iron.
  • the expandable structure comprises an aluminum tube having an ID about 20 times the wall thickness.
  • the expandable structure comprises a 10 inch ID aluminum tube having 0.5 inch wall thickness.
  • FIG. 8 depicts the expandable structure used in this example.
  • Tubing 890 is an aluminum mandrel having 0.5 inch wall thickness and 10 inch ID.
  • the fibers used in this example were Spectra® UHMWPE fibers.
  • UHMWPE fibers have a negative coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), which causes the fibers to contract as they are heated up, while the aluminum mandrel 890 has a positive CTE, which causes the mandrel to expand as it is heated.
  • CTE negative coefficient of thermal expansion
  • the combined action of the Spectra® fiber's contraction and the aluminum mandrel's expansion helps prevent loss of mechanical properties in the fibers caused by disturbances of the extended polymer chain configuration in the fibers.
  • the mandrel Before application of the dye sublimation transfer paper to the surface of the aluminum mandrel, the mandrel was cleaned by scrubbing the surface with a solvent wipe saturated with methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) or other solvent to remove any oils or contaminants.
  • MEK methyl ethyl ketone
  • the MEK was subsequently flashed off using a hand held heated air gun, and dye sublimation transfer paper was tightly wound around the outer surface of the mandrel with the dye sublimation side pointing outwards in order to be used as the contact surface with the fiber and braid being colorized.
  • the mandrel was mounted to a tension controlled winder using an inflatable core chuck and the fiber or braid spool was mounted on tension controlled let off.
  • the Spectra® braid or fiber was then wrapped over the dye-sub paper at a predetermined tension such that each wrap of the braid was tightly wound in intimate contact with the coloration surface of the transfer paper and abutting but preferably not overlapping the adjoining wrap of braid or fiber.
  • the outer layer of the transfer paper on the mandrel was covered with a layer of non-porous 2 mil thick Teflon® film to prevent migration of the colorant gases away from the Spectra® fiber or braid during the sublimation process. Also, a layer of Airweave N-10 was applied as a breather layer. The mandrel was then covered with a layer of Airtech 5 mil nylon vacuum bag sealed to the caul with Airtech tacky tape. An Airtech vacuum tap was inserted under the nylon film vacuum bag. The vacuum tap was locked in place to seal it against the nylon bag film and a vacuum hose connected to a high volume vacuum pump evacuate the air from under the vacuum bag. [0090] A vacuum of 27 inches Hg was applied to the bagged assembly using a liquid ring vacuum pump in order to check for leaks in bag or sealing system.
  • the completed mandrel assembly was maintained under vacuum and placed into an autoclave. Once in the autoclave the vacuum tap on the mandrel was connected to the autoclave's internal vacuum system.
  • the autoclave was pressurized to 5 psi with dry nitrogen to keep the bag from shifting, and the under bag vacuum on the mandrel was vented to the atmosphere to maintain atmospheric pressure on the sublimation paper during the autoclave heating process to prevent premature sublimation of the dye sublimation colorant before the Spectra® fiber had reached a sufficiently high temperature to allow the colorant to be infused into the Spectra® fiber filaments. This temperature was close to, but below, the melting point of the fibers, between about 275 and 280 °F.
  • the autoclave temperature was ramped up to the sublimation transfer temperature of 275-280 °F and held at that temperature until the lagging tool and Spectra® fiber layer reached the transfer temperature.
  • the pressure of the autoclave was released to prevent damage to the Spectra® filaments while a vacuum of 28 in Hg was pulled under the vacuum bag to initiate the sublimation of the colorant off of the dye transfer paper and facilitate the colorant's infusion into the Spectra® fiber filaments.
  • the Spectra® fibers were held at the 275-280 °F infusion temperature under vacuum for 15 minutes to allow the colorant to infuse into the Spectra® material.
  • the autoclave was cooled down to 150 °F while full vacuum was held under the mandrel vacuum bag.
  • FIGS. 9 and 10 are plots of the data from TABLE 1.
  • FIGS 9 and 10 provide the autoclave dye sublimation infusion time, temperature, autoclave pressure, and mandrel under bag pressure schedule for the coloration cycle.
  • the mandrel assembly was removed from the autoclave, and the vacuum bag, breather cloth, Teflon® film and outer layer of transfer paper were each removed from the aluminum mandrel.
  • the resulting colorized Spectra® fiber or braid was inspected for quality and uniformity of the colorization.
  • the mandrel was re-mounted onto the tension-controlled winder using an inflatable core chuck, and the fiber or braid was re-spooled onto a suitable core.
  • the colorized fibers and braid were then subjected to tensile testing in a suitably equipped testing lab.
  • FIG. 11 is a tabular summary of the test results on the Spectra® material in an "as- received" state, (i.e., prior to the colorization process).
  • FIG. 12 is a plot of tenacity versus tensile strain for the un-colorized Spectra® material.
  • FIG. 13 is a tabular summary of the test results on the colorized Spectra® material obtained from the process described immediately above.
  • FIG. 14 is a plot of tenacity versus tensile strain for the colorized Spectra® material from the colorization process above. The material used was Spectra® fiber 1740 dtex braid.
  • the average failure load of the Royal Blue colored 1740 dtex braid was measured at 89.1 lbs., which gives a corresponding average strength of 22.78 cN/dtex.
  • the average failure load of "as -received," in the white grey goods uncolored 1740 dtex braid was 90.9 lbs., which gives a corresponding average strength of 23.24 cN/dtex.
  • FIGS. 15 and 16 are Tenacity versus Strain plots of the uncolored (FIG. 15) and colored (FIG. 16) 400 denier (425 dtex) Spectra® 1000 fiber samples.
  • the average modulus of the colored 400 denier (425 dtex) Spectra® 1000 fiber is 1098.04 cN/dtex, which is slightly lower by 1.5 % than the average modulus for the uncolored, in the white 400 denier (425 dtex) Spectra® 1000 fiber, which tested at 1115.07 cN/dtex.
  • this drop in the modulus for the colored braid is believed to be attributed to some degree due to the disruption of the catenary pattern in the fibers that drops the measured modulus due to non-uniformity of filament engagement. Examination of the scatter in Tenacity Vs Strain plots of the tensile test results in FIGS.

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Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé de transfert d'un colorant sur une fibre, une tresse ou un matériau composite, consistant à appliquer le colorant sur un papier de transfert pour créer un papier de transfert à colorant, à placer le milieu de transfert coloré en contact avec la fibre, la tresse ou le matériau composite sur un support extensible ou une structure d'extension telle qu'un tube métallique, et à appliquer de la chaleur et/ou une pression ou un vide afin de perfuser le colorant sur la fibre, la tresse ou le matériau composite, à créer une fibre, une tresse ou un matériau composite colorés présentant peu ou pas de changements indésirables sur les propriétés physiques de la fibre, de la tresse ou du matériau composite.
EP16734729.3A 2015-03-26 2016-03-25 Systèmes et procédés pour le transfert de couleur et d'autres propriétés physiques sur des fibres, des tresses, des matériaux composites stratifiés, et d'autres articles Withdrawn EP3274501A1 (fr)

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US10259176B2 (en) * 2016-08-03 2019-04-16 The Boeing Company System and method associated with drape forming
CN108645814B (zh) * 2018-06-28 2020-12-15 浙江理工大学 一种用于识别多色织物润湿区域的高光谱图像采集方法
CN109580476B (zh) * 2018-11-14 2021-09-14 中航复合材料有限责任公司 一种自动铺丝用预浸丝束表面粘性的检测方法
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CN109940975B (zh) * 2019-03-29 2020-07-03 中原工学院 无污染假发发条转印装备和方法
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CA3157567C (fr) * 2019-11-19 2023-09-26 Stephen Tsiarkezos Teintage par sublimation profonde de composites fibreux
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EP4076970A1 (fr) 2019-12-20 2022-10-26 DSM IP Assets B.V. Impression par sublimation de matériaux thermosensibles
WO2021258313A1 (fr) * 2020-06-24 2021-12-30 简单绿能股份有限公司 Procédé de préparation d'un matériau composite pouvant réaliser simultanément une coloration et une mise en forme ajustée
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KR20170129935A (ko) 2017-11-27

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