Thermoplastic cycloaliphatic polyamide matrix resins for next-generation energy absorbing applications

Abstract

Provided are materials that include one or more cycloaliphatic polyamides integrated into or coated onto one or more structural fibers such as polyethylene fibers, aramid-fibers, glass fibers or carbon fibers. The resulting materials may be incorporated into composite articles suitable for use as protective equipment or structural layers.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An energy dissipating composite material comprising:
 a cycloaliphatic polyamide; and   a structural fiber, said cycloaliphatic polyamide impregnated into or coated onto said structural fiber.   
     
     
         2 . The material of  claim 1  wherein said cycloaliphatic polyamide matrix resin is amorphous. 
     
     
         3 . The material of  claim 1  wherein said thermoplastic cycloaliphatic polyamide matrix resin comprises a structure as a result of a stoichiometric reaction between a diamine and a diacid. 
     
     
         4 . The material of  claim 3  wherein said diamine is selected from the group consisting of: hexamethylenediamine; 1,4-phenyl-diamine (para-phenylenediamine); 1,3-phenyl-diamine (m-phenylenediamine); 1,4-diaminocyclohexane; 1,3-diaminocyclohexane; m-xylylenediamine; 4,4′-methylenebis(cyclohexylamine); 2,2,4-trimethyl hexamethylene diamine;
 2,4,4-trimethyl hexamethylene diamine; and any mixture thereof. 
 
     
     
         5 . The material of  claim 3  wherein said diacid is selected from the group consisting of: terephthalic acid; isophthalic acid; succinic acid; glutaric acid; adipic acid; sebacic acid; dodecanedioic acid; azelaic acid; trimethyl adipic acid; 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid; 1,3-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid; and any mixture thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The material of  claim 3  wherein said diacid and diamine each have a functionality of 2. 
     
     
         7 . The material of  claim 1  wherein said cycloaliphatic polyamide comprises a cyclohexyl moiety. 
     
     
         8 . The material of  claim 1  wherein said structural fiber comprises polyethylene fiber, aramid fiber, carbon fibers, glass fibers, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The material of  claim 8  wherein said wherein said fibers are provided in the form of an open woven fiber fabric. 
     
     
         10 . An energy dissipating composite material comprising:
 a first layer comprising a poly(urethane urea) impregnated into a first structural fiber; and   a second layer on said first layer, said second layer comprising a thermoplastic cycloaliphatic polyamide.   
     
     
         11 . The composite material of  claim 10  wherein said poly(urethane urea) and said thermoplastic cycloaliphatic polyamide are predominantly amorphous. 
     
     
         12 . The composite material of  claim 10  wherein said composite material excludes resin absent intermolecular hydrogen bonding. 
     
     
         13 . The composite material of  claim 10  excluding polycarbonate. 
     
     
         14 . The composite material of  claim 10  wherein said thermoplastic cycloaliphatic polyamide comprises a structure as a result of a stoichiometric reaction between a diamine and a diacid. 
     
     
         15 . The material of  claim 14  wherein said diamine is selected from the group consisting of: hexamethylenediamine; 1,4-phenyl-diamine (para-phenylenediamine); 1,3-phenyl-diamine (m-phenylenediamine); 1,4-diaminocyclohexane; 1,3-diaminocyclohexane; m-xylylenediamine; 4,4′-methylenebis(cyclohexylamine); 2,2,4-trimethyl hexamethylene diamine; 2,4,4-trimethyl hexamethylene diamine; and any mixture thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The material of  claim 14  wherein said diacid is selected from the group consisting of: terephthalic acid; isophthalic acid; succinic acid; glutaric acid; adipic acid; sebacic acid; dodecanedioic acid; azelaic acid; trimethyl adipic acid; 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid; 1,3-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid; and any mixture thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The material of  claim 10  wherein said poly(urethane urea) is formed of 4,4′-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate, diethyltoluenediamine, and poly(tetramethylene oxide). 
     
     
         18 . The material of  claim 10  formed into a helmet, armor, a face shield, or a transparent window element. 
     
     
         19 . The material of  claim 18  wherein said first layer is positioned outside of said second layer. 
     
     
         20 . The material of  claim 10 , wherein said cycloaliphatic polyamide is characterized by compressive flow stress values at strain rates of 2,200 per second that are higher in comparison with compressive flow stress values at strain rates of 0.01 per second.