Tata Steel has been granted a patent for a method to produce polymer-coated metal strips. The process involves laminating a thermoplastic polymer film, post-heating to adjust crystallinity, and using near-infrared spectroscopy to assess the film’s properties, ensuring quality control in production. GlobalData’s report on Tata Steel gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Tata Steel, Extraction by leaching was a key innovation area identified from patents. Tata Steel's grant share as of July 2024 was 55%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
The patent US12042959B2 outlines a method for producing a polymer-coated metal strip through a continuous coating process. The method involves several key steps, starting with the provision of a metal strip and a thermoplastic polymer film, which is laminated onto at least one side of the metal strip. Following the lamination, the coated strip is post-heated to a temperature that melts the polymer film, thereby reducing its orientation and crystallinity to a specified target value. The process includes in-line illumination of the laminated film with near-infrared (NIR) light, acquisition of back-scattered NIR light using a spectroscopy detector, and calculation of a near-infrared spectrum. This spectrum is then compared to a reference material to determine the degree of crystallinity and/or molecular orientation of the polymer film, quantified as a Conformity Index (CI).
The claims further specify that the method can be applied to both sides of the metal strip and can utilize various types of thermoplastic polymer films, including single-layer or multilayer polyester or polyolefin films. The patent also details the use of specific wavenumbers for the NIR light, adjustments to the post-heat set-point and line speed based on the CI, and the potential use of multiple spectroscopy detectors for comprehensive analysis. The metal strip can be made from various materials, including uncoated cold-rolled steel, tinplate, and galvanized steel. The method aims to achieve a target crystallinity of at most 10 wt.%, enhancing the properties of the polymer coating while ensuring efficient production in a continuous line.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
