PTFE fabric articles and method of making same
View Patent ↗Unique PTFE fabric structures, and methods for making same, are described which comprise a plurality of PTFE fibers overlapping at intersections, at least a portion of the intersections having PTFE masses which mechanically lock the overlapping PTFE fibers.
1. An article comprising:
a plurality of PTFE fibers overlapping at intersections,
wherein at least a portion of the intersections have PTFE masses extending from at least one of the overlapping PTFE fibers, and
which mechanically lock the overlapping PTFE fibers.
2. The article of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of PTFE fibers overlapping at intersections comprises a structure selected from the group consisting of knitted fibers, woven fibers, a laid scrim of fibers and nonwoven fibers.
3. The article of claim 1 , wherein said PTFE fibers comprise expanded PTFE.
4. The article of claim 1 , wherein said PTFE fibers comprise a plurality of PTFE monofilaments combined in a twisted configuration.
5. The article of claim 1 , wherein said PTFE fibers comprise one or more forms selected from the group consisting of monofilaments, multifilaments and staple fibers.
6. The article of claim 1 , wherein said PTFE fibers comprise one or more geometries selected from the group consisting of round, flat and twisted.
7. The article of claim 1 , wherein said PTFE fibers comprise at least one additional material.
8. The article of claim 1 , wherein said article further comprises PTFE islands on at least some PTFE fibers.
9. The article of claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional material incorporated in said article.
10. The article of claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional material coated on at least a portion of said PTFE fibers.
11. The article of claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional material impregnated into the article.
12. The article of claim 11 , wherein said at least one additional material comprises at least one ionomer.
13. The article of claim 1 , wherein said article comprises a layer of a multi-layered structure.
14. The article of claim 1 , wherein said article comprises a component of an electrochemical cell.
15. The article of claim 1 , wherein said article comprises a component of an electrochemical cell.
16. The article of claim 1 , wherein said article comprises a component of an acoustic device.
17. The article of claim 1 , wherein said article comprises a component of a filter.
18. The article of claim 1 , wherein said article comprises a component of a medical device.
19. The article of claim 1 having a geometry selected from the group consisting of a membrane, a tube, a sheet and a three dimensional shape.
20. The article of claim 18 , incorporated as a component of an implantable medical device.
21. A method for forming a PTFE article comprising:
forming a plurality of PTFE fibers into a structure having intersections of overlapping PTFE fibers;
subjecting the structure to a plasma treatment; then
subjecting the plasma treated structure to a heat treatment,
whereby at least a portion of the intersection of the resulting structure have PTFE masses, said PTFE masses extending from at least one of the overlapping PTFE fibers.