Abstract: A novel polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) material includes a plurality of aggregates connected together by a plurality of relatively long fibrils. Each of the aggregates are formed of PTFE nodes that are connected together by relatively short fibrils. Preferably, the long fibrils have lengths of 500 to 1000 microns and the short fibrils have a lengths of 10 to 30 microns. The aggregates have densities of less than 2.0 grams per cubic centimeter which is lower than the densities of the solid PTFE nodes which have densities of about 2.0 to 2.2 grams per cubic centimeter.

Abstract: A method of producing a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) material including the steps of extruding a first material to form a first extrudate, and extruding a second PTFE material to form a second extrudate, wherein the first PTFE material is more expandable than the second PTFE material. A stack is formed from at least one layer of the first extrudate and at least one layer of the second extrudate, and the stack is expanded and sintered to form the article.

Abstract: A low density highly porous laminate sheet material of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene/expanded thermoplastic. The composite sheet material comprises two or more layers of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene laminated with an expanded thermoplastic. A process to make the invention is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention described herein consists of an expanded PTFE (ePTFE) material that contains a novel fibril and node structure that exhibits a pore size distribution of two or more distinct pore sizes. The pore size distribution of small pores inter-spaced with larger pores to create a mosaic pore structure is advantageous as a blood-contacting surface and renders the invention a very useful and advantageous vascular graft.

Abstract: A composite expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) article includes at least two different component layers. At least one of the layers includes a node-fibril structure presenting nodes that are connected together by a first plurality of relatively short fibrils. At least one additional layer of the article includes a plurality of aggregates connected together by a plurality of relatively long fibrils having an average length of greater than about 100 microns. In addition, each of the aggregates are formed of ePTFE, including nodes that are connected together by a second plurality of relatively short fibrils. Preferably, the short fibrils have a length of 10-100 microns, and the nodes found in the article have a density of about 2.0-2.2 grams per cubic centimeter.

Abstract: A method of producing a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) material including the steps of extruding a first material to form a first extrudate, and extruding a second PTFE material to form a second extrudate, wherein the first PTFE material is more expandable than the second PTFE material. A stack is formed from at least one layer of the first extrudate and at least one layer of the second extrudate, and the stack is expanded and sintered to form the article.

Abstract: A novel polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) material includes a plurality of aggregates connected together by a plurality of relatively long fibrils. Each of the aggregates are formed of PTFE nodes that are connected together by relatively short fibrils. Preferably, the long fibrils have lengths of 500 to 1000 microns and the short fibrils have a lengths of 10 to 30 microns. The aggregates have densities of less than 2.0 grams per cubic centimeter which is lower than the densities of the solid PTFE nodes which have densities of about 2.0 to 2.2 grams per cubic centimeter.

Abstract: The invention is an amorphous polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE polymer that is composed of multi-axially oriented PTFE polymer chains. The multi-axial orientation allows the invention to exhibit consistent strength in more than one direction, exhibit excellent creep resistance, and exhibit flexural fatigue resistance.

Abstract: The invention provides for a nano-porous highly amorphous polytetrafluoroethylene biomaterial which is soft, flexible, permeable to various biomolecules and gases, and high in strength in one or more directions. The invention can be made into many desired shapes as product needs dictate and multidirectional strength can be attained by layering the invention.