Cabot Corporation

Melinda Ann Mabry

Allan Clark Morgan

Bin Chung

Ivan Zlatko Podobnik

Frederick Harry Rumpf

Scott Adrian Westveer

Malcolm John Andrews

Ting Wang

Noboru Tokita

James A Shell

Elastomer composites are produced by novel continuous flow methods and apparatus in which fluid streams of particulate filler and elastomer latex are fed to the mixing zone of a coagulum reactor to form a mixture in semi-confined flow continuously from the mixing zone through a coagulum zone to a discharge end of the reactor. The particulate filler fluid is fed under high pressure to the mixing zone, such as to form a jet stream to entrain elastomer latex fluid sufficiently energetically to substantially completely coagulate the elastomer with the particulate filler prior to the discharge end. Highly efficient and effective elastomer coagulation is achieved without the need for a coagulation step involving exposure to acid or salt solution or the like. Novel elastomer composites are produced. Such novel elastomer composites may be cured or uncured, and combine material properties, such as choice of filler, elastomer, level of filler loading, and macro-dispersion, not previously achieved.

Elastomer composites, method and apparatus

Elastomer composite blends are produced by novel wet/dry mixing methods and apparatus. In the wet mixing step or stage, fluid streams of particulate filler and elastomer latex are fed to the mixing zone of a coagulum reactor to form a mixture in semi-confined flow continuously from the mixing zone through a coagulum zone to a discharge end of the reactor. The particulate filler fluid is fed under high pressure to the mixing zone, such as to form a jet stream to entrain elastomer latex fluid sufficiently energetically to substantially completely coagulate the elastomer with the particulate filler prior to the discharge end. Highly efficient and effective elastomer coagulation is achieved without the need for a coagulation step involving exposure to acid or salt solution or the like. Novel elastomer composites are produced. Such novel elastomer composites may be cured or uncured, and combine material properties, such as choice of filler, elastomer, level of filler loading, and macro-dispersion, not previously achieved. The coagulum produced by such wet mixing step, with or without intermediate processing steps, is then mixed with additional elastomer in a dry mixing step or stage to form elastomer composite blends. The additional elastomer to the coagulum may be the same as or different from the elastomer(s) used in the wet mixing step.

Elastomer composite blends and methods-II

Elastomer composite blends and methods - II

Elastomer composites method and apparatus

Elastomeric compositions are produced by novel continuous flow methods and apparatus in which fluid streams of particulate filler and elastomer latex are fed to the mixing zone of a coagulum reactor to form a mixture flowing continuously from the mixing zone through a coagulum zone to a discharge end of the reactor. The particulate filler fluid is fed under high pressure to the mixing zone, such as to form a jet stream to entrain elastomer latex fluid sufficiently energetically to substantially completely coagulate the elastomer with the particulate filler prior to the discharge end. Semi-confined flow of the mixture in the coagulum zone is achieved preferably with progressively increasing cross-sectional dimension of the coagulum zone from the mixing zone to the discharge end. Highly efficient and effective elastomer coagulation can be achieved without the need for a coagulation step involving exposure to acid or salt solution or the like. In addition to elastomeric compositions comparable to those achievable using traditional acid or salt coagulation techniques, novel elastomeric compositions can be prepared employing previously unworkable fillers, such as carbon black of exceptionally high surface area and low structure, etc., and/or having heretofore unachievable performance properties, filler dispersion levels, elastomer molecular weight distribution or a combination of any of these.

Methods for producing elastomeric compositions

Growing community of inventors

Newton, MA, United States of America

Melinda Ann Mabry