| abstract |
1394824 Laminating method IMPERIAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES Ltd 30 May 1972 [9 June 1971] 19671/71 Heading B5N A method of making a laminated product comprises the steps of introducing between two laminae a material capable of forming fibres, subjecting the fibre-forming material to conditions such that it becomes fibre-forming and adhesive to the laminae, separating the laminae to a distance such that fibres of material are formed between them and hardening the fibreforming material whilst it adheres to the laminae. The laminae may be the same or different and may be of wood, plywood, chipboard, hardboard, metal, e.g. copper, thermosetting resin, reinforced thermoplastic or thermosetting resin, natural or synthetic rubber, asbestos, leather, glass, ceramic material, regenerated cellulose, textile material, e.g. woven nylon, paper or cardboard. The fibre-forming material may be thermoplastic or thermosetting and may comprise the monomers from which a thermoplastic resin is formed. Specified fibre-forming materials are polyamides, polyesters, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, a homo- or copolymer of ethylene, propylene, butadiene, vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate, vinylidene chloride, acrylonitrile or styrene, an epoxide, a polyurethane or a phenol-, urea- or melamineformaldehyde resin. The fibre-forming material may be introduced between the laminae in the form of a sheet which may be perforated or freshly extruded; in the form of a foam or as particles. Alternatively, when a polymerizable material is used it may be sprayed or deposited as spots. In a further embodiment, the fibreforming material may be applied to a surface of at least one of the laminae as a discontinuous or continuous layer prior to bringing the laminae together. Separation of the laminae may be effected by vacuum plates or continuous belts between which the assembly is sandwiched. Alternatively, rods or wedges may be used. Hardening of the fibres may be effected during drawing of the fibres either by cooling a thermoplastic material or by curing a thermosetting material. The products of the invention which may comprise more than two laminae with a layer of fibres bonded between each pair of adjacent laminae may, depending on the nature of the laminae and of the fibrous layer, be flexible or rigid. Flexible products may be used as shock absorbing and thermally insulating packaging material, pipe lagging, wall coverings or textile products whilst rigid products may be used as structural units for walls, floors or partitions or as cups, food trays, filters, heat exchangers, mixing devices for fluids or as reaction vessels. |