Low gloss, air permeable, abrasion resistant, printable laminate containing an asymmetric membrane and articles made therefrom

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9573339-B2
Application number	US-201313830906-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2013
Priority date	Jan 18, 2013
Publication date	Feb 21, 2017
Grant date	Feb 21, 2017

Abstract

Asymmetric expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membranes that contain multiple layers of ePTFE where at least one layer of ePTFE has a microstructure different from the microstructure of a second ePTFE layer. In exemplary embodiments, the asymmetric membrane contains a first ePTFE layer that has an “open” microstructure and a second ePTFE layer that has a less open, or “tight” microstructure. A third ePTFE layer having an “open” microstructure may be positioned on the second ePTFE layer. The asymmetric membranes possess print durability and are both abrasion resistant and air permeable. Additionally, printed asymmetric ePTFE membranes demonstrate low gloss. A textile may be affixed to the asymmetric membrane such that the first ePTFE layer is the outer surface of the laminate. Laminates containing the asymmetric membrane are sufficiently durable against abrasion so that articles of apparel having an exterior film surface remain liquidproof after an abrasion challenge.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A laminate comprising:
(1) a hydrophobic asymmetric porous membrane comprising:
a first expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having a first microstructure and containing a plurality of pores having a first pore size;
a second expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having a second microstructure and containing a plurality of pores having a second pore size; and
a third expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having a third microstructure and containing a plurality of pores having a third pore size, said third membrane being positioned on said second membrane such that said second membrane is sandwiched between said first membrane and said third membrane; and

(2) a textile layer positioned on said third expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane opposite said second expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane,
wherein said first pore size and said third pore size are greater than said second pore size,
wherein at least a portion of at least said first expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane has a printed area on an exterior surface thereof, said printed area comprising a colorant coating composition including pigment having a particle size sufficiently small to fit within the pores of the asymmetric porous membrane, and
wherein said printed area has a gloss less than 10 gloss units.

2. The air permeable laminate of claim 1 , wherein laminate has a Gurley number less than 50 seconds.

3. The air permeable laminate of claim 1 , wherein said laminate has a mass/area less than about 150 g/m 2 .

4. The air permeable laminate of claim 1 , wherein said laminate has a mass/area less than about 80 g/m 2 .

5. The air permeable laminate of claim 1 , wherein said laminate has a moisture vapor transmission rate greater than about 20000 g/m 2 /24 hours.

6. The air permeable laminate of claim 1 , wherein said laminate has a moisture vapor transmission rate greater than about 25000 g/m 2 /24 hours.

7. The air permeable laminate of claim 1 , wherein said printed area has a color consistency less than about 1.5 delta-E.

8. The air permeable laminate of claim 1 , wherein said printed area has a color consistency less than about 1.0 delta-E.

9. The air permeable laminate of claim 1 , said printed area has a color consistency less than about 0.8 delta-E.

10. The air permeable laminate of claim 1 , wherein said laminate remains liquidproof after more than 5000 abrasion cycles on the first expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane.

11. The air permeable laminate of claim 1 , wherein said colorant coating composition comprises ink and said ink at least partially penetrates said second membrane.

12. The air permeable laminate of claim 1 , wherein said laminate has a Gurley number less than about 35 seconds.

13. The air permeable laminate of claim 1 , wherein said first microstructure is substantially the same as said third microstructure.

Assignees

• Gore & Ass

Inventors

• Hodgins Michael E
• Skaife Justin J
• Luber David J

Classifications

• B32B5/32

  at least two} layers being foamed {and next to each other · CPC title

• B32B5/30

  one layer {being formed of particles, e.g. chips,} granules, powder · CPC title

• B32B2250/04

  4 layers · CPC title

• B32B2307/4023

  on the layer surface, e.g. ink · CPC title

• B32B27/12

  next to a fibrous or filamentary layer · CPC title