Claims
- 1. A composite comprising:
a substrate layer; a porous layer in contact with said substrate material; and a thermoplastic layer having a coefficient of friction of less than about 0.25 at 23° C. which is in contact with said porous layer; whereby upon joining said layers a portion of said thermoplastic layer penetrates said porous layer to become directly bonded to the substrate layer.
- 2. The composite of claim 1 whereby upon joining said layers said porous layer becomes at least partially embedded in said thermoplastic.
- 3. The composite of claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic layer is UHMWPE.
- 4. The composite of claim 2 wherein said substrate layer is selected from the group consisting essentially of reinforced epoxy composite, metal, carbon reinforced epoxy composite, glass fiber reinforced epoxy composite, synthetic fiber reinforced epoxy composite, and woven fabric fiber reinforced epoxy composite.
- 5. The composite of claim 2 wherein said porous layer is selected from a group consisting essentially of a fibrous mat, glass fibers, synthetic fibers, and natural fibers.
- 6. A method for forming a composite material including the steps of:
providing a substrate layer; providing a porous layer disposed on said substrate layer; providing a thermoplastic layer having a coefficient of friction less than about 0.25 at 23° C. disposed on said porous layer; and applying pressure in the presence of heat to the thermoplastic layer so the thermoplastic layer partially penetrates the porous layer to mechanically interlock the thermoplastic layer with said porous layer and directly bond said thermoplastic layer to the substrate layer, the porous layer being simultaneously bonded to the substrate layer.
- 7. The method of claim 6 wherein bonding said porous layer to said substrate layer includes mechanically interlocking said porous layer to said substrate layer.
- 8. The method of claim 6 wherein providing a substrate layer is providing a thermosettable epoxy resin.
- 9. The method of claim 6 wherein providing a porous layer is providing a porous mat of fibers.
- 10. The method of claim 6 wherein providing a thermoplastic layer is providing a layer of UHMWPE.
- 11. The method of claim 10 wherein providing a layer of UHMWPE is providing a layer of UHMWPE from 0.2 to 10 mm thick.
- 12. An elongated member capable of use with a conveyor system comprising:
a substrate layer; a porous layer disposed on said substrate layer; and a thermoplastic layer having a coefficient of friction of less than 0.25 at 23° C. disposed upon said porous layer whereby said porous layer is at least partially disposed within said thermoplastic layer and said thermoplastic layer is directly bonded to the substrate layer through said porous layer.
- 13. The elongated member of claim 12 wherein said thermoplastic layer is UHMWPE.
- 14. The elongated member of claim 13 wherein said substrate layer is selected from the group consisting essentially of reinforced epoxy composite, metal, carbon reinforced epoxy composite, glass fiber reinforced epoxy composite, synthetic fiber reinforced epoxy composite, and woven fabric fiber reinforced epoxy composite.
- 15. The elongated member of claim 12 further comprising a pair of depending sidewalls, said thermoplastic layer disposed on said sidewalls.
- 16. The elongated member of claim 14 wherein said elongated member is a vibratory pan.
- 17. A chute for a conveyor system comprising:
at least one composite member defining an interior and an exterior surface; a substrate layer; a porous layer disposed on said substrate layer; and a thermoplastic layer having a coefficient of friction less of less than 0.25 at 23° C. disposed upon said porous layer whereby said porous layer is at least partially disposed within said thermoplastic layer, the thermoplastic layer being directly bonded to the substrate layer through said porous layer, said thermoplastic layer defining said interior surface.
- 18. The chute of claim 17 wherein said thermoplastic layer is UHMWPE.
- 19. The chute of claim 17 wherein said substrate layer is selected from a group consisting essentially of reinforced epoxy composite, glass fiber reinforced epoxy composite, carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composite, synthetic fiber reinforced composite, and metal.
- 20. The chute of claim 17 further comprising a sorting grate.
- 21. The chute of claim 17 wherein the chute is a hollow cylinder.
- 22. The chute of claim 21 wherein said cylinder is a drum capable of being rotated.
- 23. The chute of claim 22 wherein said drum comprises paddles disposed on said interior surface.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a U.S. patent application claiming priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/225,137 filed on Aug. 14, 2000. The disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60225137 |
Aug 2000 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
PCT/US01/03561 |
Feb 2001 |
US |
Child |
10358738 |
Feb 2003 |
US |