Patent ID: 6475094
Filing Date: 2002-11-05
Classification: B29C,B29K,B29L

Abstract:
A method of joining a cap of UHMWPE to the head of a bolt having a body and a head comprising:placing the body of the bolt in a bolt retaining opening of a mold having bottom wall and a side wall surrounding a cavity with the head of the bolt located in the cavity, depositing particulate UHMWPE in the cavity around the head of the bolt, compressing the particulate UHMWPE in the cavity around the head of the bolt, heating the compressed particulate UHMWPE to a temperature of between 250 and 350 degrees F. to molecularly bond the UHMWPE to the head of the bolt, adjusting the duration of the heating to sinter all of the UHMWPE, cooling the UHMWPE and the bolt, adjusting the duration of the cooling of the UHMWPE to allow all of the UHMWPE to cool to a temperature below the melting temperature of UHMWPE, and removing the bolt with the UHMWPE cap bonded to the head of the bolt from the cavity of the mold.