IP Library Granted Patent US 11,905,651
Granted Patent B2
US 11,905,651 · App. 17/349,762 · Granted Feb 20, 2024

Auxetic fabric reinforced elastomers

Inventors: Alexander T. Smith (Knoxville, TN); Jared D G Butlin (Longmeadow, MA)
Assignee: Swift Textile Metalizing LLC
D06N3/0009B32B5/026B32B7/022B32B7/025B32B7/12B32B27/12B32B27/20D06M11/83D06N3/0063D06N3/0077B32B2255/02B32B2255/26B32B2262/02B32B2307/202B32B2307/212B32B2307/706D06N2209/041D06N2209/045Y10T442/2008
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,905,651
App. No.
17/349,762
Granted
Feb 20, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A composite structure is provided that includes a polymer layer and an auxetic material layer disposed within or partially within the polymer layer. The auxetic material layer provides increased conductivity and elastomeric reinforcement to the polymer layer.

Claims (43)

1. A composite structure comprising:

a polymer layer;

an auxetic material layer disposed within the polymer layer, wherein the auxetic material layer provides increased electrical conductivity and elastomeric reinforcement to the polymer layer; and

an adhesive disposed on the polymer layer,

wherein the adhesive comprises one or more of the following: a conductive polymer, nickel, reduced graphene oxide, graphene oxide, nanowires, metal nanowires, carbon-based particles, graphite, graphite flakes, graphite flakes coated in a metal, graphite flakes coated in nickel, graphite flakes coated in gold, graphite flakes coated in copper and nickel, graphite flakes coated in copper, and carbonyl iron.

2. The composite structure of claim 1 , wherein the polymer layer is a polymer matrix.

3. The composite structure of claim 2 , wherein the polymer matrix comprises one or more of the following: reduced graphene oxide, graphene oxide, silver nanowires, metal nanowires, graphite, graphite flakes, graphite flakes coated in a metal, graphite flakes coated in silver, graphite flakes coated in nickel, graphite flakes coated in gold, graphite flakes coated in silver and nickel, graphite flakes coated in silver and gold, graphite flakes coated in copper, graphite flakes coated in copper and nickel, carbonyl iron, carbon nanotubes, conductive materials, metal particles as a filler, or silver particles as a conductive filler.

4. The composite structure of claim 1 , wherein the polymer layer results from addition polymerization or condensation polymerization and may be activated by a free-radical, thermally cured, pH adjustment, a catalyst, or light.

5. The composite structure of claim 1 , wherein the polymer matrix comprises one or more of a thermoplastic, a fluorine moiety, a plasticizer, a co-block polymer segment, a silicone, a room temperature vulcanizing silicone, and a polyurethane.

6. The composite structure of claim 1 , wherein the auxetic material layer comprises fabrics being coated with one or more metals, MXene, carbon-based particles, or combinations thereof to achieve conductivity.

7. The composite structure of claim 1 , wherein the auxetic material layer comprises an auxetic fabric formed using a knit construction.

8. The composite structure of claim 7 , wherein the knitted auxetic fabric comprises monofilament and/or multifilament yarns.

9. The composite structure of claim 8 , wherein the monofilament yarns comprise one or more of the following: helical conductive auxetic yarn (HAY) type construction, polyamide, polyester, silicone, polyurethane, a conductive polymer, a combination of polyamide and silicone, a combination of polyester and silicone, a combination of polyamide and polyurethane, a combination of polyester and polyurethane.

10. The composite structure of claim 8 , wherein the multifilament yarns comprise one or more of the following: helical conductive auxetic yarn (HAY) type construction, polyamide, polyester, silicone, polyurethane, a conductive polymer, a combination of polyamide and silicone, a combination of polyester and silicone, a combination of polyamide and polyurethane, a combination of polyester and polyurethane.

11. The composite structure of claim 7 , wherein the knitted auxetic fabric comprises one or more of the following: conductive materials, resistive materials, silver, tin, palladium, gold, graphene, graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes, conductive polymers, nanoparticles, nickel, a combination of silver and nickel, copper, a combination of copper and nickel, carbides, metal oxides, MXenes, or a metal.

12. The composite structure of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive, a room temperature vulcanizing (RTV) composite, light activated, partially cured, heat cured, moisture cured, or a contact adhesive.

13. The composite structure of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is resistive or conductive.

14. The composite structure of claim 1 , wherein the composite structure is used in radio frequency (RF) shielding applications or RF absorption applications.

15. The composite structure of claim 1 , wherein the auxetic material layer changes conductivity of the composite structure when introduced to strain or elongation.

16. A composite structure comprising:

a polymer layer;

a first portion of an auxetic material layer embedded within the polymer layer, wherein the first portion of the auxetic material layer provides increased electrical conductivity and elastomeric reinforcement to the polymer layer;

a second portion of the layer positioned external the polymer layer; and

an adhesive disposed on the second portion of the auxetic layer,

wherein the adhesive comprises one or more of the following: a conductive polymer, nickel, reduced graphene oxide, graphene oxide, nanowires, metal nanowires, carbon-based particles, graphite, graphite flakes, graphite flakes coated in a metal, graphite flakes coated in nickel, graphite flakes coated in gold, graphite flakes coated in copper and nickel, graphite flakes coated in copper, and carbonyl iron.

17. The composite structure of claim 16 , wherein the adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive, a room temperature vulcanizing (RTV) composite, light activated, partially cured, heat cured, moisture cured, or a contact adhesive.

18. The composite structure of claim 16 , wherein the adhesive is resistive or conductive.

19. The composite structure of claim 16 , wherein the polymer layer comprises a polymer matrix having one or more of the following: reduced graphene oxide, graphene oxide, silver nanowires, metal nanowires, graphite, graphite flakes, graphite flakes coated in a metal, graphite flakes coated in silver, graphite flakes coated in nickel, graphite flakes coated in gold, graphite flakes coated in silver and nickel, graphite flakes coated in silver and gold, graphite flakes coated in copper, graphite flakes coated in copper and nickel, carbonyl iron, carbon nanotubes, conductive materials, metal particles as a filler, or silver particles as a conductive filler.

20. The composite structure of claim 16 , wherein the polymer layer results from addition polymerization or condensation polymerization and may be activated by a free-radical, thermally cured, pH adjustment, a catalyst, or light.

21. The composite structure of claim 19 , wherein the polymer matrix comprises one or more of a thermoplastic, a fluorine moiety, a plasticizer, a co-block polymer segment, a silicone, a room temperature vulcanizing silicone, and a polyurethane.

22. The composite structure of claim 16 , wherein the auxetic material layer comprises a fabric coated with one or more metals, MXene, carbon-based particles, or combinations thereof to achieve conductivity.

23. The composite structure of claim 16 , wherein the auxetic material layer comprises a conductive auxetic fabric formed using a knit or woven construction.

24. The composite structure of claim 23 , wherein the knitted or woven conductive auxetic fabric comprises monofilament and/or multifilament yarns.

25. The composite structure of claim 24 , wherein the monofilament yarns comprise one or more of the following: helical conductive auxetic yarn (HAY) type construction, polyamide, polyester, silicone, polyurethane, a conductive polymer, a combination of polyamide and silicone, a combination of polyester and silicone, a combination of polyamide and polyurethane, a combination of polyester and polyurethane.

26. The composite structure of claim 24 , wherein the multifilament yarns comprise one or more of the following: helical conductive auxetic yarn (HAY) type construction, polyamide, polyester, silicone, polyurethane, a conductive polymer, a combination of polyamide and silicone, a combination of polyester and silicone, a combination of polyamide and polyurethane, a combination of polyester and polyurethane.

27. The composite structure of claim 23 , wherein the knitted or woven conductive auxetic fabric comprises conductive materials, resistive materials, silver, tin, palladium, gold, graphene, graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes, conductive polymers, nanoparticles, nickel, a combination of silver and nickel, copper, a combination of copper and nickel, carbides, metal oxides, MXenes, or a metal.

28. The composite structure of claim 16 , wherein the composite structure is used in radio frequency (RF) shielding applications or RF absorption applications.

29. The composite structure of claim 16 , wherein the auxetic material layer changes conductivity of the composite structure when introduced to strain or elongation.

30. A method for forming a reinforced composite structure comprising:

providing a polymer layer;

forming an auxetic material layer within or partially within the polymer layer, wherein the auxetic material layer comprises an auxetic material being coated with one or more conductive materials; and

forming an adhesive disposed on the polymer layer,

wherein the adhesive comprises one or more of the following: a conductive polymer, nickel, reduced graphene oxide, graphene oxide, nanowires, metal nanowires, carbon-based particles, graphite, graphite flakes, graphite flakes coated in a metal, graphite flakes coated in nickel, graphite flakes coated in gold, graphite flakes coated in copper and nickel, graphite flakes coated in copper, and carbonyl iron.

Assignments (3)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Sep 8, 2025
From: SWIFT TEXTILE METALIZING, LLC
To: GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE
Reel/Frame 072835/0480 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 27, 2025
From: X-MICROWAVE, LLC; TANTALUM PELLET COMPANY, LLC; EVANS CAPACITOR COMPANY, LLC; PACIFIC AEROSPACE & ELECTRONICS, LLC; OHIO ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES, LLC; FILCONN, LLC; HERMETIC SOLUTIONS GROUP INC.; RUBBERCRAFT CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA, LTD.; SWIFT TEXTILE METALIZING LLC; RMB PRODUCTS; BAL SEAL ENGINEERING, LLC; KAMATICS CORPORATION; BEI PRECISION SYSTEMS & SPACE COMPANY, INC.; PAKTRON LLC; OHMEGA TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; TICER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; CUSTOM INTERCONNECTS, LLC; SANDERS INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, INC.; AKROFIRE, LLC; KAMAN AEROSPACE CORPORATION; KAMAN CORPORATION
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 070344/0430 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 21, 2021
From: SMITH, ALEXANDER T.; BUTLIN, JARED DG
To: SWIFT TEXTILE METALIZING LLC
Reel/Frame 056601/0611 →