Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Implements – Brush or broom
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-17
2001-06-26
Edwards, Newton (Department: 1774)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Implements
Brush or broom
C428S372000, C015S167100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06249928
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to plasticized polyamide monofilaments containing abrasive particles that are useful as bristles in brushes used for example for polishing a wide variety of materials.
Polyamides and other thermoplastic polymers have been used to form monofilaments containing an abrasive filler and the monofilaments have been used widely for bristles in brushes used for polishing metals and electronic parts. U.S. Pat. No. 3,522,342 issued Jul. 28, 1970 to Nungesser et al shows an apparatus and process for making such monofilaments. U.S. Pat. No. 4,507,361 issued Mar. 26, 1985 to Twilley et al shows low moisture absorption bristles of blends of polyamides and polyesters containing an abrasive filler. U.S. Pat. No. 4,585,464 issued Apr. 29, 1986 to Haylock et al shows low moisture absorption abrasive bristles of polybutylene terephthalate.
In the polishing of parts under dry conditions temperature resistance rather than moisture absorption is critical in maintaining stiffness of the bristles. When a polyamide such as Nylon 6,12 or Nylon 6,10 or blends of polyamides and polyesters are operated at temperatures of 220° C. and above, they lose their stiffness and ability to cut materials at the elevated temperatures such as those that typically occur under dry brushing applications. If a monofilament of a polyamide that has a higher temperature resistance, such as Nylon 6,6 (polyhexamethylene adipamide), is used as the bristle for a brush, the bristles fracture at the base of the brush after only a short period of operation since these polyamides are relatively brittle and have a low degree of flexibility.
There is a need for a monofilament containing an abrasive material that can be used for bristles of brushes that operate effectively at relatively high temperatures under dry brushing and polishing conditions. The polyamide monofilaments of the present invention operate effectively under such conditions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The monofilament of this invention is a polyamide of polyhexamethylene adipamide oriented from 1.0-4.0 times its original length, has a diameter of 400-1600 microns and contains 2-20% by weight, based on the weight polyamide of the monofilament, of an alkyl aryl sulfonamide plasticizer and 5.0-40.0% by weight, based on the weight of the monofilament, of abrasive particles having a particle size of 10-400 microns. These monofilaments are particularly useful as bristles used in brushes that are operated under dry conditions at relatively high temperatures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The polyamide monofilament is of polyhexamethylene adipamide which is plasticized with an alkyl aryl sulfonamide plasticizer and the monofilament is oriented in its original length from 1.0-4.0 times and has a diameter of 400-1600 microns and has dispersed therein 5-40% by weight, based on the weight of the monofilament, of abrasive particles. These monofilaments are useful for bristles in brushes that are operated under dry conditions and at temperatures in the range of 220-250° C. The bristles remain flexible at these elevated temperatures and retain their ability to brush and polish materials.
It is preferable for these monofilament to have a Fatigue Life of at least 50 minutes and preferably 50-500 minutes and above, as determined by ôImpact Fatigue Test for Nylon Filamentsö DuPont Test Method PP-0071 dated Jan. 14, 1998.
These monofilaments are particularly useful for the bristles of brushes that are used under dry conditions, in particular for brushes that are used to brush and/or polish metals, electronic parts and electronic circuit boards.
The polyamide used to form the monofilament preferably is Nylon 6,6 (polyhexamethylene adipamide) having a relative viscosity as determined by ASTM D-789-62T of 50-240 and preferably of 180-240.
A plasticizer is added to the polyamide so that it retains its flexibility under use conditions particularly when subject to elevated temperatures. The plasticizer is used in an amount of 2-20% by weight and preferably 5-15% by weight, based on the weight of polyamide of the monofilament. The plasticizer is an alkyl aryl sulfonamide, preferably where the alkyl group has 1-4 carbon atoms. Typical plasticizers are n-methyl benzene sulfonamide, n-ethyl benzene sulfonamide, n-propyl benzene sulfonamide, n-isopropyl benzene sulfonamide, n-isobutyl benzene sulfonamide and n-butyl benzene sulfonamide. One preferred plasticizer is n-butyl benzene sulfonamide since it is readily available and provides optimum flexibility to the monofilament.
The abrasive particles used in the monofilament have a particle size of 10-400 microns and preferably 20-350 microns. The particles are present in an amount of 5.0-40% by weight, based on the weight of the monofilament and preferably in an amount of 10.0-30.0%, by weight. The particles are of such a material that provides an abrasive to the monofilament to aid in brushing and polishing.
Preferred abrasive particles are as follows: silicon carbide, aluminum oxide, alumina zirconia, silicon dioxide, sodium aluminum silicate, cubic boron nitride, garnet, pumice, emery, mica, quartz, diamond, boron carbide, fused alumina, sintered alumina, and any mixtures thereof. Silicon carbide and aluminum oxide are preferred abrasives.
Process for Forming the Filament
In making the filament, a twin screw extruder typically is used such as a W & P (Werner and Pfleiderer) twin screw extruder, the polyamide in form of granules is fed from a feeder unit into the extruder either volumetrically or gravimetrically. The abrasive is fed from a separate feeder into the extruder as is the plasticizer and blended with the polyamide in the extruder at a temperature of 220-275° C. The blended mixture of polyamide, plasticizer and abrasive is then metered to a spin pack having a die plate and filaments of various shapes (not limited to solid round shapes) and sizes are produced. The shape of the filament cross section is determined by the shape of the holes in the die plate and may be any cross sectional shape, such as, round, oval, rectangular, triangular, any regular polygon or an irregular non circular shape and may be solid, hollow or contain multiple longitudinal voids in its cross sections. Each run of the extruder can produce any combination of cross-sectional shapes by using a die plate with various shaped holes. Strands of one or more diameters may be made at the same time by changing the size of the holes in the die plate.
After exiting the die plate, the bundle of filament strands is solidified in a water quench bath and then transported through a series of draw rolls for stretching of the filament strands. The filament strands are then transported through the heat set oven to heat set the filaments. The filament strands are then wound on a winder which is usually a drum or a spool. Optionally, the filaments can be surface treated to enhance or modify surface properties such as the coefficient of friction.
The following examples illustrate the invention. All parts and percentages are on a weight basis unless otherwise indicated.
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PCT International Search Report dated
E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
Edwards Newton
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