Plated polymers with intumescent compositions and temperature indicators

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016145447-A1
Application number	US-201414903888-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 9, 2014
Priority date	Jul 9, 2013
Publication date	May 26, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A plated polymer component is disclosed. The plated polymer component may comprise a polymer support, a metal plating deposited on a surface of the polymer support, and at least one flame-retardant additive included in the polymer support. In another aspect, the plated polymer component may comprise a polymer substrate, a metal plating deposited on a surface of the polymer substrate, and a temperature-indicating coating applied to at least one of of the polymer substrate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A plated polymer component, comprising:
a polymer support; a metal plating deposited on a surface of the polymer support; and at least one flame-retardant additive included in the polymer support.

2 . The plated polymer component of claim 1 , wherein the at least one flame-retardant additive is an intumescent substance.

3 . The plated polymer component of claim 2 , wherein the intumescent substance forms a carbonaceous solid-phase char layer upon exposure to fire or a heat source, and wherein the carbonaceous solid-phase layer creates a thermal barrier between the polymer support and the fire or the heat source.

4 . The plated polymer component of claim 2 , wherein the intumescent substance comprises phosphorous, melamine cyanurate, a nanoclay, or a nitrogen compound.

5 . The plated polymer component of claim 2 , wherein the intumescent substance is present in the polymer support at a concentration in the range of about 5 wt. % to about 10 wt. %.

6 . The plated polymer component of claim 2 , wherein the polymer support includes a reinforcing element.

7 . The plated polymer component of claim 6 , wherein the intumescent substance is present in the polymer support at a concentration of greater than about 10 wt. %.

8 . A plated polymer component, comprising:
a polymer substrate; a metal plating deposited on a surface of the polymer substrate; and a temperature-indicating coating applied to at least one of a surface of the metal plating and the surface of the polymer substrate.

9 . The plated polymer component of claim 8 , wherein the temperature-indicating coating provides a detectable signal upon exposure of the plated polymer component to a critical temperature, and wherein the critical temperature is a temperature at which a bond between the polymer substrate and the metal plating begins to degrade.

10 . The plated polymer component of claim 8 , wherein the temperature-indicating coating provides a detectable signal upon exposure of the plated polymer component to a critical temperature, and wherein the critical temperature is a glass-transition temperature of the polymer substrate.

11 . The plated polymer component of claim 10 , wherein the detectable signal is a visually-detectable signal.

12 . The plated polymer component of claim 11 , wherein the visually-detectable signal is a color change.

13 . The plated polymer component of claim 11 , wherein the visually-detectable signal is a phase change.

14 . The plated polymer component of claim 13 , wherein the phase change is a solid to liquid phase change.

15 . The plated polymer component of claim 12 , wherein the temperature-indicating coating is a temperature-indicating paint.

16 . The plated polymer component of claim 12 , wherein the temperature-indicating coating is a temperature-indicating film.

17 . A plated polymer component having a polymer substrate and a metal plating deposited on a surface of the polymer substrate, the plated polymer component being formed by a method comprising:
forming the polymer substrate; depositing the metal plating on the surface of the polymer substrate; selecting a temperature-indicating coating that provides a detectable signal at a critical temperature of a bond between the polymer substrate and the metal plating; and applying the temperature-indicating coating to at least one of a surface of the metal plating and a surface of the polymer substrate.

18 . The plated polymer component of claim 17 , wherein the critical temperature is a glass-transition temperature of the polymer substrate.

19 . The plated polymer component of claim 18 , wherein applying the temperature-indicating coating comprises applying the temperature-indicating coating as a tape.

20 . The plated polymer component of claim 18 , wherein applying the temperature-indicating coating comprises applying the temperature-indicated coating as a spray coating.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Miarecki Michael S
• Cook Grant O
• Twelves Wendell V
• Levasseur Glenn
• Watson Charles R

Classifications

• F04D29/542

  Bladed diffusers (fixing blades to stators F01D9/042) · CPC title

• F04D29/324

  Blades · CPC title

• F04D29/023

  especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps · CPC title

• F05D2300/501

  Elasticity · CPC title

• F05D2230/30

  with deposition of material · CPC title