RUBBER COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING EPOXIDIZED NATURAL RUBBER AND NATURAL RUBBER

Abstract: An elastic composite is provided having natural rubber and epoxidized natural rubber components. Compared to known composites, the present composition achieves reduced oil swell and absorption, lower permanent set, lower modulus of elasticity, and high tear strength. When formed in a tape, the composition is extremely useful for legbands, straps and contours of swimwear and other garments.

Description: 0 "RUBBER COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING EPOXIDIZED NATURAL RUBBER AN NATURAL RUBBER" Field of the Invention The present invention relates to elastomeri 5 compositions comprising blends of epoxidized natural rubber an natural rubber. Background of the Invention The various situations requiring elastic materials hav 0 led to the development of a wide range of natural and syntheti rubbers. Many of the more demanding situations have require blends of these rubbers to provide the proper mix o characteristics. For example, vehicle tires often includ styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) , which is the most commo 5 synthetic elastomer, polybutadiene (BR) , and even natural rubber. The characteristics usually associated with natural rubber, i.e. , abrasion resistance, resilience, good high- and low-temperatur performance, and tear strength are ideal for tires and simila applications, which experience great punishment. 0 However, other environments have less demandin strength requirements, but make other strict demands o elastomers. For example, in the clothing industry, elastomer used for form fitting clothing have a unique set of requirements. These include a low stretch modulus, high dimensional stabilit 5 (to retain the article's shape), low permanent set (to avoi losing the snug fit of a garment) , and tear resistance (to avoi tearing while being punctured by the sewing needle) . Thes demands are compounded, for example, when the garment is swimwear. In this area, in addition to the clothing fit requirements, the garment may be exposed to large amounts of sunlight, chlorine from pool water, salt-water, and oils from body perspiration and sun protection lotions. A common choice of elastomer for clothing elastication purposes is natural rubber (cis-1. -polyisoprene) , It provides excellent elongation properties, can be made soft, has very good tear resistance and is strong. However, it is severely deficient in resistance to sunlight, oils, or chlorine. A common synthetic substitute for natural rubber in clothing is Neoprene tape, which has excellent resistance to oil, ozone, abrasion and solvents. Unfortunately, the neoprene is not as elastic as the natural rubber, and it takes a permanent set when it stretches that can range up to 25%, which greatly distorts a garment. Neoprene is also much more expensive than natural rubber and has a lower yield due to its higher specific gravity. In recent years, a new type of elastomer has become available, namely epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) , which is usually produced by the chemical modification of natural rubber latex with peroxycarboxylic acids. A key advantage that is gained by this modification is increased resistance to swelling by hydrocarbon oils and solvents. ENR also has excellent tensile strength and fatigue properties. In addition, a high degree of reinforcement may be obtained with silica fillers, even in the absence of a coupling agent. However, the surface characteristics (i.e., the look and feel) of the epoxidized natural rubber do not match those of natural rubber, making epoxidized natural rubber a less than ideal choice for garments. Epoxidized natural rubber is also more difficult to sew than natural rubber, partly because of a tendency to tear due to the sewing needle. ENR also has an undesirably high permanent set. To take advantage of the benefits of both the natural rubber and the epoxidized natural rubber, a hybrid would be ideal. However, it has been found that the specific interactions between the hydrogens of isoprene units (in the natural rubber) and the oxirane oxygens of epoxidized isoprene moieties (in the ENR) , are weak. Previous tests have shown that the two materials do not mix well. Without proper uniformity in the attempted blends, it has been difficult to form a blend that has consistent properties needed for applications such as vehicle tires or footwear. In Japanese patent application 1992-126737, a composition of ENR and natural rubber is disclosed, although large percentages of carbon black and oils are necessary to produce the tire treads. It is thus an object of the invention to provide a composition for use in elastication of garments that has the superior qualities of both natural rubber and epoxidized natural rubber. It is another object that the composition have high chlorine, salt-water, and oil resistance; a low permanent set; snug gather; and resistance to sunlight exposure. It is a further object of the invention to provide a composition that attains the desired properties, while being cost-efficient. Summary of the Invention In view of the foregoing objects, an elastic composite is provided having natural rubber and epoxidized natural rubber components that are blended together in proportions described below. When formed in a tape, the composition is extremely useful for legbands, straps and contours of swimwear and other garments. The foregoing and other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments According to the invention, a composition comprising a component of natural rubber and a component of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) is provided. Usually, epoxidized natural rubber is epoxidized in solution by acids, such as perbenzoic, perphthallic, and peracetic acids. The two most commonly available forms of ENR are ENR25 (25 mole % epoxidized) and ENR50 (50 mole % epoxidized) , now available from Guthrie, Inc. of Malaysia. Other grades of epoxidized natural rubber may be used. The natural rubber component is preferably supplied in a bulk crumb form. The natural rubber and epoxidized natural rubber are mixed in a BANBURY internal heated mixer for a time sufficient to mix the two components into a uniform blend, although it is assumed that the mixing only occurs on the granular level, and not the molecular level. The resulting blends have a high degree of homogeneity. Other conventional mixers, such as an open mill mixer, rubber mill, Brabender mixer, or twin-screw continuous mixer may also be used. While the mixing continues, the remaining ingredients are added, which may include, but are not limited to, accelerators, antioxidants, prevulcanization inhibitors, reinforcement fibers, pigments, dyes, and process oils. These and other processing aids are added in normal fashion depending on the specific mixing protocol used. The specific components and their parts per hundred rubber are shown in Table 1. Alternate vulcanizing/accelerator combinations commonly used for rubber compounding may also be used with similar results. Table 1 The filler listed may be a talc or calcium carbonate or other soft filler and may include titanium dioxide, which can be totally or partially replaced with Silica filler and/or clays, for some applications, it is contemplated that up to 60 parts per hundred rubber of filler might be used. The activator preferably includes zinc oxide and stearic acid. The accelerators preferably include benzothiazyl disulfide and di-morpholino disulfide. The vulcanizing agents preferably include sulfur and alkyl phenol disulfide. In the case of the alternate embodiment of the invention, methacrylate grafted NR (MGNR) is added as a compatibility improvement agent. Both the natural rubber and epoxidized natural rubber exhibit increased compatibility with the MGNR than with each other, so the MGNR acts as a bridge to improve the bond between adjacent grains of natural rubber and epoxidized natural rubber. Compatabilizing agents other than MGNR can also be used, such as other graft or block copolymers that preferably have at least one segment which is compatible with the natural rubber being used and at least one segment that is compatible with epoxidized natural rubber. An example is SIS (styrene-isoprene-styrene) copolymer. The preferred epoxidation level of the ENR is 50. Since ENR with varied epoxidation levels can be produced, it is preferred that the amount of the ENR satisfy the following equation: 1.75 ( %mol (ENR) ) ~ (pph (ENR) ) _≤3.75 1000 in which the %mol (ENR) is the mole % epoxidation level of the ENR and the pph(ENR) is the parts per hundred rubber of the ENR. While the level of epoxidation may be varied and still satisfy the equation, it is preferred that the pph(ENR) remain within the range of about 35 to about 75. As can be seen in Table 2, the preferred and alternate compositions according to the present invention provide as good or better elasticity than natural rubber alone or neoprene. The oil resistance of the two compositions, as measured by the growth in the volume of a sample (oil swell %) and the rise in percentage weight over time (oil absorption %) is from 2 to 10 times better than natural rubber alone. The oil properties can be determined in a known manner, such as by immersion in oil for several hours. Table 2 As shown in Table 2, the present compositions exhibit a lower modulus of elasticity with respect to either natural rubber alone or neoprene. The oil swell and oil absorption properties are also lower than natural rubber, and in the case of the alternate embodiment, lower than both. The permanent set, i.e., the non-recoverable stretch, of the ENR-NR compositions is half that for neoprene and lower than that for natural rubber alone. Although not shown in the table, the tear strength of the present compositions is higher than for ENR alone. Whereas most common elastomers used in swimwear turn yellow after prolonged exposure to light and/or chlorinated pool water, the ENR-NR compositions turn bluer, adding to the aesthetic appeal of the ENR-NR compositions. Thus, the composition of the present invention is particularly useful in forming an article of manufacture that achieves several optimum properties simultaneously. Previous compositions provided benefits in terms of one or two properties while lacking in others. Specifically, the composition can be used in an article that has the advantageous properties of low oil swell and oil absorption, low permanent set, low modulus of elasticity, and high tear strength. In the preferred embodiment, the composition of the present invention can be use in the manufacture of garments, such as swimwear, which would take advantage of the enhanced properties of the present composition. While the embodiments shown and described are fully capable of achieving the objects and advantages of the invention, it is to be understood that these embodiments are shown and described for the purpose of illustration and not for the purpose of limitation.

Claims: Claims 1. An elastomeric composition comprising a component of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) and a component of natural rubber, the amount of the component of ENR being given by the formula: 1 75 ± ( %mol (ENR) ) • (pph ( ENR) ) ^ ~ ηs 1000 wherein the %mol(ENR) is the mole % epoxidation of the ENR; wherein the pph(ENR) is the parts per hundred rubber of the ENR and the pph(ENR) is between about 35 and about 75; and a component of non-reinforcing filler in the amount ranging between about 7 and about 40 parts per hundred total rubber. 2. An elastomeric composition as in claim 1 further comprising a component of a copolymer selected from the group consisting of graft copolymers and block copolymers, wherein said copolymer serves as a compatabilizing agent. 3. An elastomeric composition according to claim 2 wherein said copolymer is methacrylate grafted natural rubber. 4. An elastomeric composition according to claim 3 wherein the %mol (ENR) is about 50 and the pph(ENR) is about 47. 5. An elastomeric composition according to claim 4, wherein the amount of said copolymer is about 5 parts per hundred total rubber. 6. An elastomeric composition according to claim 1, wherein the %mol (ENR) is about 50. 7. An elastomeric composition according to claim 6, wherein said pph(ENR) is about 50. 8. An elastomeric composition according to claim 7, wherein the amount in parts per hundred rubber of said natural rubber is substantially equal to the amount of ENR. 9. An elastomeric composition according to claim 1, wherein said component of non-reinforcing filler is a mineral filler in the amount of about 30 parts per hundred rubber. 10. An elastomeric composition according to claim 9, wherein said non-reinforcing filler is a member selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, silica, clay, talc, calcium carbonate, and mixtures thereof. 11. An article of manufacture having reduced oil swell and oil absorption, lower permanent set, lower modulus of elasticity, and high tear strength, comprising: a component of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) and a component of natural rubber, the amount of the component of ENR being given by the formula: , -^ ( *mol (ENR) ) • (pph (EϊW) ) ^ ?5 1000 wherein the %mol (ENR) is the mole % epoxidation of the ENR; and wherein the pph(ENR) is the parts per hundred rubber of the ENR and the pph(ENR) ranges between about 35 and about 75. 12. An article of manufacture according to claim 11, further comprising a component of a non-reinforcing filler in the amount ranging between about 7 and about 40 parts per hundred rubber. 13. article of manufacture according co claim 12, further comprising a component of a copolymer selected from the group consisting of graft copolymers and block copolymers, wherein said copolymer serves as a compatabilizing agent. 14. An article of manufacture according to claim 13.. wherein said copolymer is methacrylate grafted natural rubber., 15. An article of manufacture according to claim 14, wherein said component of non-reinforcing filler is a mineral filler in the amount of about 30 parts per hundred rubber. 16, An article of manufacture according to claim 15, wherein said non-reinforcing filler is a member selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, silica, clay, talc, calcium carbonate, and mixtures thereof.

Inventors: CURTIN PATRICK J, LIPINSKI TIMOTHY M, RUSSELL WILLIAM E, CURTIN, PATRICK, J., LIPINSKI, TIMOTHY, M., RUSSELL, WILLIAM, E.
Applicants: MOORE CO, THE MOORE COMPANY
Application year: 1993
Main classification: C08K3
IPC codes: C08G59, C08L7, C08L15, C08L21, C08L51, C08L63