Nonwoven material for low friction bearing surfaces
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to a saturable nonwoven material comprising fluoropolymer floc and aramid floc, which can be used as a substrate for a liner for self-lubricating bearings and for other applications.
1. A saturable nonwoven material comprising a resin impregnatable structure including a mixture dispersed therein of at least one fluoropolymer floc; at least one wettable structural organic floc; and a binder wherein the binder is up to about 20% by weight of the saturable nonwoven material; and wherein the material has a basis weight of about 17 g/m 2 to about 810 g/m 2 and a thickness of about 0.02 mm to about 8.2 mm.
2. The saturable nonwoven material of claim 1 , wherein the fluoropolymer floc is at least about 30% by weight of the mixture.
3. The saturable nonwoven material of claim 1 , wherein the fluoropolymer floc comprises at least one perfluoronated polymer.
4. The saturable nonwoven material of claim 1 , wherein the binder comprises at least one fibrous material.
5. The saturable nonwoven material of claim 1 , wherein the binder comprises at least one aramid fibrid.
6. The saturable nonwoven material of claim 1 , wherein the binder comprises a mixture of at least one aramid fibrid and a resin.
7. A saturable nonwoven material comprising a resin impregnatable structure comprising a mixture dispersed therein of about 40% to about 60% by weight of a fluoropolymer floc; about 10% to about 40% by weight of a wettable structural organic floc; and a binder wherein the binder is up to about 20% by weight of the saturable nonwoven material; and wherein the material has a basis weight of about 17 g/m 2 to about 810 g/m 2 and a thickness of about 0.02 mm to about 8.2 mm.
8. The saturable nonwoven material according to claim 7 , comprising about 10% to about 20% by weight of the binder.
9. A saturable nonwoven material comprising a resin impregnatable structure including a mixture dispersed therein of about 40% to about 60% by weight of a fluoropolymer floc; about 60% to about 40% by weight of a meta-aramid floc; and a binder wherein the binder is up to about 20% by weight of the saturable nonwoven material; and wherein the material has a basis weight of about 17 g/m 2 to about 810 g/m 2 and a thickness of about 0.02 mm to about 8.2 mm.
10. A saturable nonwoven material comprising a resin impregnatable structure including a mixture dispersed therein of about 45% by weight of a fluoropolymer floc; about 36% by weight of a meta-aramid floc; about 10% by weight of a meta-aramid fibrid; and about 9% of a resin; and wherein the material has a basis weight of about 17 g/m 2 to about 810 g/m 2 and a thickness of about 0.02 mm to about 8.2 mm.