Claims
- 1. A polymer blend for fabricating a laser-weldable article comprising:
a first component of a material not thermally responsive to a laser beam and selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, ethylene and lower alkyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene and lower alkyl substituted alkyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, polybutadienes, polyesters, polyamides, and styrene and hydrocarbon copolymers; a second component of a laser responsive material having low solubility in an aqueous medium and present in an amount by weight of from about 20 ppm to about 2000 ppm; and the blend being sufficiently thermally responsive to exposure to a laser beam having a wavelength within a range of wavelengths from about 700 nm to about 1500 nm to at melt upon exposure to the laser beam for a short period of time.
- 2. The blend of claim 1, wherein the polyolefin is obtained from a monomer of an α-olefin having from 2 to 20 carbons.
- 3. The blend of claim 1, wherein the polyolefin is selected from the group of propylene containing polymers and ethylene containing polymers.
- 4. The blend of claim 1, wherein the polyolefin is selected from the group consisting of homopolymers of polypropylene and copolymers of polypropylene.
- 5. The blend of claim 4, wherein the homopolymer of polypropylene has a stereochemistry selected from the group consisting of isotactic, syndiotactic, atactic, hemiisotactic and stereoblock.
- 6. The blend of claim 4, wherein the copolymer of polypropylene is selected from the group consisting of random copolymers and block copolymers.
- 7. The blend of claim 4, wherein the copolymer of polypropylene is obtained by polymerizing a propylene monomer with an α-olefin having from 2 to 20 carbons.
- 8. The blend of claim 4, wherein the copolymer of polypropylene is selected from the group of random copolymers with ethylene and block copolymers with ethylene.
- 9. The blend of claim 1, wherein the polyolefin has a heat of fusion from about 60 joules/g to about 160 joules/g.
- 10. The blend of claim 9, wherein the polyolefin has a peak melting point temperature of less than about 165° C.
- 11. The blend of claim 1, wherein the first component is a second blend of a first polypropylene and a styrene and hydrocarbon copolymer.
- 12. The blend of claim 11, wherein the styrene and hydrocarbon copolymer is selected from the group of random copolymers of styrene and hydrocarbon and block copolymers of styrene and hydrocarbon.
- 13. The blend of claim 12, wherein the styrene and hydrocarbon block copolymer is selected from the group consisting of di-block copolymers, tri-block copolymers, multi-block copolymers and star block copolymers.
- 14. The blend of claim 13, wherein the styrene and hydrocarbon block copolymer is oil modified.
- 15. The blend of claim 11, wherein the second blend includes a second polypropylene, the second polypropylene having a high melt strength.
- 16. The blend of claim 15, wherein the second blend has from about 10% to about 50% by weight of the sum of the weights of the first polypropylene and the second polypropylene and the styrene and hydrocarbon copolymer constituting the remaining weight portion of the second blend.
- 17. The blend of claim 1, wherein the polyolefin is selected from the group consisting of homopolymers of ethylene and copolymers of ethylene.
- 18. The blend of claim 17, wherein the copolymers of ethylene are obtained by polymerizing ethylene monomers with an α-olefin having from 3 to 20 carbons.
- 19. The blend of claim 17, wherein the copolymers of ethylene are obtained by polymerizing ethylene monomers with an α-olefin having from 4 to 8 carbons.
- 20. The blend of claim 17, wherein the copolymers of ethylene have a density of less than about 0.915 g/cc.
- 21. The blend of claim 17, wherein the copolymers of ethylene have a density of less than about 0.900 g/cc.
- 22. The blend of claim 17, wherein the polyolefin is an ultra-low density polyethylene.
- 23. The blend of claim 2, wherein the polyolefin is obtained utilizing a single-site catalyst.
- 24. The blend of claim 2, wherein the polyolefin is obtained utilizing a metallocene catalyst.
- 25. The blend of claim 1, wherein the first component is a polybutadiene.
- 26. The blend of claim 1, wherein the laser responsive material has a functional group selected from the group consisting of: polymethine, porphine, indanthrene, quinone, di- and tri-phenylmethane, and metal complexed dithiol dyes.
- 27. The blend of claim 26, wherein the laser responsive material is a dye,
- 28. The blend of claim 27, wherein the dye is thermally stable at temperatures reached during extrusion processing of the blend.
- 29. The blend of claim 28, wherein the dye is present in an amount from about 200 ppm to about 500 ppm.
- 30. The blend of claim 1, wherein the first component is a third blend of from about 99% to about 50% by weight of a third component selected from the group consisting of: (1) ethylene and α-olefin copolymers having a density of less than about 0.915 g/cc, (2) ethylene and lower alkyl acrylate copolymers, (3) ethylene and lower alkyl substituted alkyl acrylate copolymers and (4) ionic polymers; and from about 50% to about 1% of a fourth component selected from the group consisting of: (1) propylene containing polymers, (2) butene containing polymers, (3) polymethyl pentene containing polymers, (4) cyclic olefin containing polymers and (5) bridged polycyclic hydrocarbon containing polymers.
- 31. The blend of claim 30, wherein the laser responsive material is present in an amount from about 200 ppm to about 2000 ppm.
- 32. A laser weldable tubing comprising:
a sidewall having a layer from a polymer blend comprising a first component of a material not thermally responsive to a laser beam and selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, ethylene and lower alkyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene and lower alkyl substituted alkyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, polybutadienes, polyesters, polyamides, and styrene and hydrocarbon copolymers, a second component in an amount by weight of from about 20 ppm to about 500 ppm of a laser responsive material having low solubility in aqueous medium and the layer being sufficiently thermally responsive to exposure to a laser beam having a wavelength within a range of wavelengths from about 700 nm to about 1500 nm to melt a portion of the sidewall upon exposure to the laser beam for a short period of time.
- 33. The tubing of claim 32, wherein the tubing has a monolayer structure.
- 34. The tubing of claim 32, wherein the tubing has a multiple layer structure.
- 35. The tubing of claim 34, wherein the layer forms a solution contact layer.
- 36. The tubing of claim 34, wherein the layer is a core layer.
- 37. The tubing of claim 34, wherein the layer is a skin layer.
- 38. The tubing of claim 32, wherein the polyolefin is obtained from a monomer of an α-olefin having from 2 to 20 carbons.
- 39. The tubing of claim 32, wherein the polyolefin is selected from the group of propylene containing polymers and ethylene containing polymers.
- 40. The tubing of claim 32, wherein the polyolefin is selected from the group consisting of homopolymers of polypropylene and copolymers of polypropylene.
- 41. The tubing of claim 40, wherein the homopolymer of polypropylene has a stereochemistry selected from the group consisting of isotactic, syndiotactic, atactic, hemiisotactic and stereoblock.
- 42. The tubing of claim 40, wherein the copolymer of polypropylene is selected from the group consisting of random copolymers and block copolymers.
- 43. The tubing of claim 40, wherein the copolymer of polypropylene is obtained by polymerizing a propylene monomer with an (α-olefin having from 2 to 20 carbons.
- 44. The tubing of claim 40, wherein the copolymer of polypropylene is selected from the group of random copolymers with ethylene and block copolymers with ethylene.
- 45. The tubing of claim 32, wherein the polyolefin has a heat of fusion from about 60 joules/g to about 160 joules/g joules/g.
- 46. The tubing of claim 45, wherein the polyolefin has a peak melting point temperature of less than about 165° C.
- 47. The tubing of claim 32, wherein the first component is a second blend of a first polypropylene and a styrene and hydrocarbon copolymer.
- 48. The tubing of claim 47, wherein the styrene and hydrocarbon copolymer is selected from the group of random copolymers of styrene and hydrocarbon and block copolymers of styrene and hydrocarbon.
- 49. The tubing of claim 48, wherein the styrene and hydrocarbon block copolymer is selected from the group consisting of di-block copolymers, tri-block copolymers, and star block copolymers.
- 50. The tubing of claim 49, wherein the styrene and hydrocarbon block copolymer is oil modified.
- 51. The tubing of claim 47, wherein the second blend includes a second polypropylene, the second polypropylene having high melt strength.
- 52. The tubing of claim 51, wherein the second blend has from about 10% to about 50% by weight of the sum of the weights of the first polypropylene and the second polypropylene and the styrene and hydrocarbon copolymer constituting the remaining weight portion of the second blend.
- 53. The tubing of claim 32, wherein the polyolefin is selected from the group consisting of homopolymers of ethylene and copolymers of ethylene.
- 54. The tubing of claim 53, wherein the copolymers of ethylene are obtained by polymerizing ethylene monomers with an α-olefin having from 3 to 20 carbons.
- 55. The tubing of claim 53, wherein the copolymers of ethylene are obtained by polymerizing ethylene monomers with an α-olefin having from 4 to 8 carbons.
- 56. The tubing of claim 53, wherein the copolymers of ethylene have a density of less than about 0.915 g/cc.
- 57. The tubing of claim 53, wherein the copolymers of ethylene have a density of less than about 0.900 g/cc.
- 58. The tubing of claim 53, wherein the polyolefin is an ultra-low density polyethylene.
- 59. The tubing of claim 58, wherein the ultra-low density polyethylene is obtained utilizing a single-site catalyst.
- 60. The tubing of claim 58, wherein the ultra-low density polyethylene is obtained utilizing a metallocene catalyst.
- 61. The tubing of claim 32, wherein the laser responsive material has a functional group selected from the group consisting of: polymethine, porphine, indanthrene, quinone, di- and tri-phenylmethane, and metal complexed dithiol dyes.
- 62. The tubing of claim 61, wherein the laser responsive material is a dye.
- 63. The tubing of claim 62, wherein the dye is thermally stable at temperatures reached during extrusion processing of the tubing.
- 64. The tubing of claim 63 wherein the dye is present in an amount from about 200 ppm to about 500 ppm.
- 65. A film comprising:
a layer comprising a first blend of a polymeric component and a laser responsive component, wherein the polymeric component is a second blend of from about 99% to about 50% by weight of a first component selected from the group consisting of: (1) ethylene and α-olefin copolymers having a density of less than about 0.915 g/cc, (2) ethylene and lower alkyl acrylate copolymers, (3) ethylene and lower alkyl substituted alkyl acrylate copolymers and (4) ionic polymers; and from about 50% to about 1% of a second component selected from the group consisting of: (1) propylene containing polymers, (2) butene containing polymers, (3) polymethyl pentene containing polymers, (4) cyclic olefin containing polymers and (5) bridged polycyclic hydrocarbon containing polymers; and wherein the film is sufficiently thermally responsive to exposure to a laser beam having a wavelength within a range of wavelengths from about 700 nm to about 1500 nm to at melt upon exposure to the laser beam for a short period of time.
- 66. The film of claim 65, wherein the α-olefin has from 4 to 8 carbons.
- 67. The film of claim 66, wherein the ethylene and α-olefin copolymer is obtained using a single-site catalyst.
- 68. The film of claim 66, wherein the second component is a propylene containing polymer.
- 69. The film of claim 68, wherein the propylene containing polymer is a homopolymer.
- 70. The film of claim 68, wherein the propylene containing polymer is a copolymer of propylene and ethylene.
- 71. The film of claim 70, wherein the second blend includes a third component of a second ethylene and α-olefin copolymer.
- 72. The film of claim 71, wherein the second ethylene and α-olefin copolymer is obtained using a single-site catalyst.
- 73. The film of claim 72, wherein the first ethylene and α-olefin copolymer has a density of less than about 0.900 g/cc, and the second ethylene and α-olefin copolymer has a density of higher than about 0.900 g/cc but less than about 0.910 g/cc.
- 74. The film of claim 65 further comprising a laser responsive material in the first blend and wherein the laser responsive material is a dye having a functional group selected from the group polymethine, porphine, indanthrene, quinone, di- and tri-phenylmethane, and metal complexed dithiol dyes.
- 75. The film of claim 65, wherein the film is a monolayer structure.
- 76. The film of claim 65, wherein the film is a multiple layer structure.
- 77. The film of claim 76, wherein the layer is a seal layer.
- 78. A film comprising:
a layer of a first blend of a polymeric component and a laser responsive component wherein the polymeric component is a second blend comprising by weight of from about 35% to about 45% of a first ethylene and α-olefin copolymer having a density of less than about 0.900 g/cc, from about 20% to about 30% of a second ethylene and α-olefin copolymer having a density of higher than about 0.900 g/cc but less than about 0.910 g/cc, and from about 30% to about 40% of a polypropylene and wherein the film is sufficiently thermally responsive to exposure to a laser beam having a wavelength within a range of wavelengths from about 700 nm to about 1500 nm to at melt upon exposure to the laser beam for a short period of time.
- 79. The film of claim 78, wherein the first ethylene and α-olefin copolymer is obtained using a single-site catalyst.
- 80. The film of claim 79, wherein the second ethylene and α-olefin copolymer is obtained using a single-site catalyst.
- 81. The film of claim 80, wherein the polypropylene is a random copolymer of propylene with ethylene.
- 82. The film of claim 78 further comprising a laser responsive material in the first blend and wherein the laser responsive material is a dye having a functional group selected from the group polymethine, porphine, indanthrene, quinone, di- and tri-phenylmethane, and metal complexed dithiol dyes.
- 83. A film comprising:
a layer of a blend of an ethylene and α-olefin copolymer and a dye having a functional group selected from the group polymethine, porphine, indanthrene, quinone, di- and tri-phenylmethane, and metal complexed dithiol dyes.
- 84. The film of claim 83, wherein the ethylene and α-olefin copolymer is obtained using a single-site catalyst.
- 85. The film of claim 84, wherein ethylene and α-olefin copolymer has a density of less than about 0.915 g/cc.
- 86. The film of claim 84, wherein ethylene and α-olefin copolymer has a density of less than about 0.900 g/cc.
- 87. A laser weldable multiple lumen tubing comprising:
a first lumen and a second lumen each having a layer from a polymer blend comprising a first component of a material not thermally responsive to a laser beam and selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, ethylene and lower alkyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene and lower alkyl substituted alkyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, polybutadienes, polyesters, polyamides, and styrene and hydrocarbon copolymers, a second component in an amount by weight of from about 20 ppm to about 2,000 ppm of a laser responsive material having low solubility in aqueous medium and the layer being sufficiently thermally responsive to exposure to a laser beam having a wavelength within a range of wavelengths from about 700 nm to about 1500 nm to melt a portion of the sidewall upon exposure to the laser beam for a short period of time.
- 88. The multiple lumen tubing of claim 87 wherein the first lumen and the second lumen are connected together along peripheral edges.
- 89. The multiple lumen tubing of claim 88 wherein the first lumen and the second lumen extend in a parallel direction with respect to one another.
- 90. The multiple lumen tubing of claim 88 wherein the first lumen and the second lumen are helically disposed with respect to one another.
- 91. The multiple lumen tubing of claim 87 wherein the first lumen and the second lumen are concentrically disposed with respect to one another.
- 92. The multiple lumen tubing of claim 87 wherein the first lumen defines a passageway and further comprising a third lumen wherein the second lumen and third lumen are disposed in the passageway.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/061,835 filed on Jan. 31, 2002, which is currently pending, and which is hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10061835 |
Jan 2002 |
US |
Child |
10251683 |
Sep 2002 |
US |