The Goodyear & Tire Rubber Company

Vanessa Marika Guscoff

Lawson G Wideman

Michael Joseph Rachita

This invention discloses a process for manufacturing an elastomeric article by liquid injection molding, said process comprising the steps of: (I) heating a curable composition comprised of (1) a liquid polymer comprised of repeat units that are derived from a conjugated diolefin monomer, wherein said liquid polymer has a weight average molecular weight which is within the range of 5,000 to 100,000, and wherein the liquid polymer is functionalized with an amine moiety, (2) a carbonyl inhibited platinum catalyst, and (3) a tetrakis(dialkyl siloxy) silane crosslinking agent, to a temperature which is within the range of 30&#xb0; C. to 100&#xb0; C.; (II) injecting the heated curable composition into a mold at a temperature which is within the range of 100&#xb0; C. to 210&#xb0; C. to produce the elastomeric article; and (III) removing the elastomeric article from the mold.

Liquid polymer

Amine-functionalized liquid polyisoprene

This invention discloses a process for manufacturing an elastomeric article by liquid injection molding, wherein the article has improved tensile strength and improved tear strength, said process comprising the steps of: (I) heating a curable composition comprised of (1) a liquid polymer comprised of repeat units that are derived from a conjugated diolefin monomer, wherein said liquid polymer has a weight average molecular weight which is within the range of 5,000 to 100,000, and wherein the liquid polymer is functionalized with an ether moiety, (2) a carbonyl inhibited platinum catalyst, and (3) a tetrakis(dialkyl siloxy) silane crosslinking agent, to a temperature which is within the range of 30&#xb0; C. to 100&#xb0; C.; (II) injecting the heated curable composition into a mold at a temperature which is within the range of 100&#xb0; C. to 210&#xb0; C. to produce the elastomeric article; and (III) removing the elastomeric article from the mold. This invention also discloses that the elasticity of such cured elastomeric articles can be increased without reducing cure levels by incorporating a liquid Ctackifier resin into the liquid polymer.

This invention discloses a process for manufacturing an elastomeric article by liquid injection molding, wherein the article has improved tensile strength and improved tear strength, said process comprising the steps of: (I) heating a curable composition comprised of (1) a liquid polymer comprised of repeat units that are derived from a conjugated diolefin monomer, wherein said liquid polymer has a weight average molecular weight which is within the range of 5,000 to 100,000, and wherein the liquid polymer is functionalized with an ether moiety, (2) a carbonyl inhibited platinum catalyst, and (3) a tetrakis(dialkyl siloxy)silane crosslinking agent, to a temperature which is within the range of 30&#xb0; C. to 100&#xb0; C.; (II) injecting the heated curable composition into a mold at a temperature which is within the range of 100&#xb0; C. to 210&#xb0; C. to produce the elastomeric article; and (III) removing the elastomeric article from the mold. This invention also discloses that the elasticity of such cured elastomeric articles can be increased without reducing cure levels by incorporating a liquid Ctackifier resin into the liquid polymer.

The present invention is based upon the unexpected finding that polyisoprene rubber which is clear and of high purity can be cured utilizing the curative system of this invention to attain an elongation at break of greater than 1200% without compromising the clarity or purity of the rubber. The curative system of this invention is comprised of a carbonyl inhibited platinum catalyst, and a branched crosslinking agent having at least 2 hydrosilyl groups per molecule. The curative system of this invention can be used to cure solid polyisoprene rubber that is used in a wide variety of application and is a particular value in curing polyisoprene rubber used in manufacturing sporting goods, healthcare, and medical products. The present invention more specifically discloses a curable polyisoprene rubber composition comprising: (1) a polyisoprene rubber comprised of repeat units that are derived from isoprene monomer, (2) a carbonyl inhibited platinum catalyst, and (3) a crosslinking agent having at least 2 hydrosilyl groups per molecule.

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Wadsworth, OH, United States of America

Vanessa Marika Guscoff