Fabric (woven – knitted – or nonwoven textile or cloth – etc.) – Coated or impregnated woven – knit – or nonwoven fabric which... – Coating or impregnation improves elasticity – bendability,...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-25
2001-10-30
Morris, Terrel (Department: 1771)
Fabric (woven, knitted, or nonwoven textile or cloth, etc.)
Coated or impregnated woven, knit, or nonwoven fabric which...
Coating or impregnation improves elasticity, bendability,...
C442S173000, C442S175000, C442S327000, C442S328000, C442S374000, C442S375000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06309985
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to vibration-damping materials, and in particular to vibration-damping laminates having constraining layers.
A structure that is under the influence of internal and/or external forces, such as an automobile panel, tends to vibrate and produce undesirable noise. It is known to reduce the vibration of the structure by attaching a vibration-damping material to the structure. The vibration-damping material often consists of a single layer of a viscoelastic material, such as asphalt or rubber. It has been found particularly useful, however, to use a laminate as the vibration-damping material, wherein the laminate includes a viscoelastic layer and a constraining layer with a high Young's modulus. Such a constraining layer increases the damping effect of the laminate, and supports and protects the viscoelastic layer and the structure. Conventionally, the constraining layer is composed of metal because metal has a high Young's modulus.
Although a laminate with a metal constraining layer provides numerous advantages, such a laminate also has disadvantages. A laminate with a metal constraining layer has increased weight, is harder to shape, is more expensive to produce, and is usually more expensive to install.
Based upon the foregoing, there is a need in the art for an improved vibration-damping laminate. The present invention is directed to such a laminate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It therefore would be desirable, and is an advantage of the present invention, to provide a vibration-damping laminate having a constraining layer that includes non-thermoplastic fibers. A viscoelastic layer is secured to the constraining layer. In one embodiment, the viscoelastic layer includes a thermoplastic elastomer. In another embodiment, the viscoelastic layer includes a blowing agent.
Also provided in accordance with the present invention is a method of damping a structure having a surface with a depression formed therein. A laminate is provided that includes a constraining layer secured to a viscoelastic layer. The constraining layer includes non-thermoplastic fibers. The viscoelastic layer includes a thermoplastic elastomer and a blowing agent. The viscoelastic layer is secured to the surface of the structure, over the depression. The laminate is then heated to activate the blowing agent, thereby causing the viscoelastic layer to expand into the depression.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 5858521 (1999-01-01), Okuda et al.
Thiokol Propulsion, TCR™ (Composite Resin System), 1998, pp. 1-7.
Schroeder Jeffrey J.
Virnelson R. Craig
Wheeler Maurice E.
Morris Terrel
Pearne & Gordon LLP
Soundwich, Inc.
Torres Norca L.
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