PROCESS TO RECOVER RAW RUBBER COMPOUND FROM SEMI-FINISHED, REINFORCED, TECHNICAL RUBBER PRODUCTS, ESPECIALLY HOSES, BEFORE CROSS-LINKING, AND EQUIPMENT THEREFOR

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the recovery of not vulcanised rubber compound from semi-finished, reinforced technical rubber products, especially hoses. According to the invention the reinforced, not vulcanised semi-finished technical rubber products, preferably rubber hoses, are pressed between metal surfaces heated up to 50-300 DEG C; or are pressed by other way; or are preheated to the above mentioned temperature and placed between metal surfaces and pressed, the elasticised rubber flowing out is recovered and cooled to ambient temperature. The equipment is characterised in that containing a preheated or forewarmed space and a pair of rolls rotating in opposite directions, while the distance between said rolls is adjustable and they are in close proximity to the preheated or forewarmed space.

Description: PROCESS TO RECOVER RAW RUBBER COMPOUND FROM SEMI-FINISHED, REINFORCED, TECHNICAL RUBBER PRODUCTS, ESPECIALLY HOSES, BEFORE CROSS-LINKING, AND EQUIPMENT THEREFOR The object of the present invention is a process to recover raw rubber compound from semi-finished, reinforcement containing technical rubber product, especiallly hoses (tubes), before crosslinking (vulcanizing) the same. A further object of the invention is equipment to realise the said process. First of all, the present invention relates to the recovery of the raw rubber compound for recycling and/or reprocessing from the extruded (calandered) faulty products or waste („scrap" in the followings), which are produced during the manufacture of reinforced rubber hoses or tubes for the automotive and other industries. In order to better understanding the invention has been disclosed in connection with (rubber hoses), however it should be clear that a person skilled in the art, will be able to apply the process of the present invention for rubber belts or other technical rubber products as well, on basis of the teaching of the present specification. Recently unvulcanized, raw rubber compounds can be recycled from scrap, produced during extrusion or calandering, in that case only if they do not contain any reinforcement. The scrap raw rubber containing reinforcement is not suitable to be processed further (by extrusion or calandering, which are also called procuring), because the rubber compound becomes elasticised and bonds to the reinforcement due to the heat transfer during the procuring process. Currently there is not any known method for the recovery of unvulcanized rubber scrap formed during the manufacturing process, although there are several known methods for the recovery of rubber from vulcanised end-products. The manufacturer usually recyles the unvulcanized rubber following milling it in ripped two roll mills or cutting it in shredders to particles, having an avarage particle size of smaller than 10 mm. The resulted material can be used for the production of technical rubber products, rubber sheets and solid rubber tires, as secondary raw material having high, 42-45% rubber content (see Gumiipari Kezikonyv, 2 nd Volume, TAURUS-OMIKK, Budapest, 1989). It can be understood, that the above methods can not be used for the purpose of production reinforced, straight or specially shaped rubber hoses (used in the automotive industry for water and oil hydraulic and gas hoses), since the recovered material can not be admixed with the new raw rubber compound applied to manufacture the said hoses. The use of such textile containing raw material is not acceptable, because the working conditions of the product the stresses on the product, further the manufacturing requirements do not allow it. Therefore it can be stated that recycling of the reinforced rubber from the scrap produced during or before procuring has not been solved yet. The above technical problem results in unnecessary raw material, transport and waste disposal costs for the manufacturer, and it also creates environmental problems, as the produced scrap is practically not biodegradable, so that is pollutes the environment. Furthermore, during manufacturing of such rubber products the estimated amount of reinforcement containing scrap or waste produced during the extrusion (calandering) step, is about 2-15% of the weight of the end-product. Therefore there is a great need for a process to recover the raw rubber compound, which can be than recycled, from the unvulcanized, reinforced rubber scrap. A process has been disclosed according to DE 3137502 for recycling of vulcanised and unvulcanised rubber scrap. According to this process the compounds containing such materials are exposed to heat in boiling hydrocarbon solvents, under pressure and under inert atmosphere. The product obtained by the said process can be used as plasticizing agent or demulcent for rubber compounds. This process would not suitable to solve the task of the present invention. The aim of the present invention is to provide a solution for the above discussed problem, namely for the recovery of the raw rubber compound from unvulcanized, reinforced rubber compounds. According to the present invention surprisingly it has been found that the rubber compound becomes elasticized, and flows out from the space between the reinforcements, when the unvulcanized, reinforced rubber semi-product is placed between metal surfaces, which are heated to a predetermined temperature; or when the rubber semi-product is preheated to a certain temperature and than placed between metal surfaces, by which a certain pressure is applied. Than the rubber compound can be separated from the reinforcements even manually. The recovered rubber is cooled to room temperature and recycled. It is known in the art, that rubber hoses are manufactured in the following technological steps: a) Extrusion; b) Vulcanization; c) Finishing. During step „a", namely during extrusion (which also means calandering in case of rubber belts) - a not reinforced rubber hose (so called seal) is produced by extruder, the said hose possesses the required properties, and it is the inner liner; - reinforcement is laid on the inner liner with braider or spiralling machine, and than - a cover layer is put on the reinforced inner liner with a cross headed extruder and the hose is cut to the required length by a cutting machine. During step „b", - the semi-finished hoses cut to the required length are placed on a mandrel having the required shape, and than hoses are vulcanised under the selected operational conditions, such as optimal temperature, pressure, vulcanising time, humidity, etc. During step „c", - the hoses are pulled off from the mandrel after vulcanisation, and than they are inspected, repaired, labelled and packed. The process according to the present invention enables the manufacturer to recover and to make the rubber compound recyclable from the reinforced rubber scrap produced during the adjustment or routine operation of the extrusion or the calandering. The essence of the process of the present invention is that, the reinforced unvulcanized semi-finished rubber products, preferably rubber hoses, are pressed between metal surfaces heated up to a temperature of 50-300°C; or are pressed by other way; or the said rubber products are preheated to the above mentioned temperature and placed between metal surfaces and pressed, the elasticised rubber compound flowing out is recovered and cooled to ambient temperature. According to an embodiment of the process of the present invention the reinforced unvulcanized semi-finished rubber hose is placed between the pressing plates (in other words between metal surfaces), which are heated to the above mentioned temperature, and are pressed with 5-50 ton force. According to a further embodiment of the process of the present invention the reinforced, unvulcanized, semi-finished rubber hoses are cut to 20-80 cm long pieces, and are preheated in a preheating unit for 0,5-10 minutes. The cut, and preheated pieces are led through between a pair of rotating rolls, which are preferably rotating at the same speed, but in opposite directions. A further embodiment of the process according to the present invention is to preheat the reinforced, unvulcanized, semi-finished rubber hoses to a temperature of 50-300°C without cutting them to pieces. Than preheated pieces are led between a pair of rotating rolls, preferably rotating at the same speed, but in opposite directions. Preferred temperature is between 50-160°. In the case of the above embodiments of the invention as rotating rolls conical rolls may be applied as well. In case of applying pressing machine the reinforced unvulcanized, semi- finished rubber hoses are placed from the sides to the not moving, heated pressing plate, the heated pressing plate and a pressure of 5-50 ton force is applied for 0,1-5 seconds in a vertical direction. The temperature of the pressing plates is between 50- 300°C, preferably between 50-160°C. The heated, moving pressing plate may be moved by a mechanical or a hydraulic system. In case of using a preheating unit, the reinforced, unvulcanized, semi-finished rubber hoses cut to a required length, are preheated to 40-300°C, preferably to max. 160°C, for 0,5-10 minutes. The preheated, reinforced, unvulcanized, semi-finished rubber hoses are led between a pair of rotating rolls, which are rotating preferably at the same speed, but in opposite directions. The gap between the rolls can be adjusted between 0,5-50 mm with screw shaft, depending on the diameter of the rubber hoses. The rotating rolls are driven by a heavy-duty electric motor, with cogwheel transmission. The free length of the rolls is minimum 250 mm. In that case when a preheating unit is used, its length is selected between 300- 1000 mm and it has a temperature selected from the above mentioned range. The reinforced unvulcanized, semi-finished rubber hoses go through the preheating unit, than they are led between rolls rotating in the opposite directions. Said rolls are placed directly after the preheating unit. The gap between the rolls can be adjusted in the same way and in the same range as described above, and also the free length of the rolls is the same as given above. The temperature and time of preheating is selected taking into account the vulcanisation parameters of the material to be processed. The process is carried out similarly in case of using conical rolls, to enhance the efficacy of the process. The following example is to illustrate the process of the invention, for better understanding. It should be noted however, that the process of the invention is not restricted to the example. Example An unvulcanized, semi-finished rubber hose, containing polyamide reinforcements and having 25 mm outer diameter, 2 mm outer wall thickness and 2 mm inner wall thickness, is pressed between pressing plates preheated to 160°C for 3 seconds with 40 ton force. After cooling to ambient temperature the rubber compound is obtained. About 70-80% of the rubber compound was recovered in this way. The equipment according to the invention to carry out the process of the invention is characterised in that it contains a preheated or forewarmed space and rolls in close proximity to the preheated space (e.g. before or beside it), said rolls are rotating preferable at the same speed, but in opposite directions. The device has means for the adjustment of the gap between the rolls, drive means for the rolls, and if required they may be equipped with known aligning, guiding and forwarding means. The equipment is shown by the following drawings: Figure 1. - showing the preheating unit, and Figure 2. - showing the forewarming unit. Figure 1 shows the 1 preheating unit, and the 3 reinforced, unvulcanized, semifinished rubber hose. Figure 2 shows the 4 forewarming unit, and other elements, indentical to those on Figurel . The embodiment according to Figure 1 having an 1 preheating unit is intended for the batch processing of the 3 reinforced, unvulcanized, semi-finished rubber hose, since the product is not necessarily fed continuously between the 2 rolls, which rotating at the same speed, but in opposite directions; while the 4 forewarming unit shown on Figure 2 is operating in such a manner, that the 3 reinforced unvulcanized, semi-finished rubber hose is fed from it continuously between the 2 rolls rotating at the same speed, but in opposite directions.

Claims: Claims 1. A process to recovery raw rubber compound form unvulcanized reinforced, semi-finished technical rubber products, especially rubber hoses, characterised in that the unvulcanized, reinforced, semi-finished technical rubber products, especially rubber hoses, are pressed between metal surfaces heated up to temperature of 50- 300°C, or the unvulcanized, reinforced, semi-finished technical rubber products are pressed by other way; or the said rubber products are preheated to the above mentioned temperature and placed between metal surfaces, and pressed, the elasticised rubber flowing out is recovered and cooled to ambient temperature. 2. A process to recovery raw rubber compound form unvulcanized reinforced, semi-finished technical rubber products, especially rubber hoses, characterised in that the unvulcanized, reinforced, semi-finished technical rubber products, especially rubber hoses, are pressed between metal surfaces heated up to temperature of 50- 160°C, or the unvulcanized, reinforced, semi-finished technical rubber products are pressed by other way; or the said rubber products are preheated to the above mentioned temperature and placed between metal surfaces, and pressed, the elasticised rubber flowing out is recovered and cooled to ambient temperature. 3. The process of claim 1 , characterised in that the unvulcanized, reinforced, semi-finished technical rubber product is cut to 20-80 cm long pieces preheated in a preheating unit for 0,5-10 minutes to a temperature of 40-300°C, preferably max. 160°C and they are pressed by a pair of rolls, rotating preferable at the same speed, but in opposite directions. 4.The procedure of claim 1 , characterised in that the unvulcanized, reinforced, semi-finished technical rubber product is preheated without cutting to a temperature of 50-300°C, preferably to max. 160°C and it is pressed by a pair of rolls. 5. The process of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the rolls have conical shapes. 6. Equipment for the process according to claims 3-5, characterised in that containing a preheated or forewarmed space (1 or 4) and a pair of rolls (2) rotating in opposite directions, the distance between said rolls is adjustable, and they are in close proximity to the preheated or forewarmed space and the said rolls are equipped with means for adjustment of the gap between the rolls, driving unit, and it required, the said rolls may be equipped with aligning guiding and forwarding means. 7. The equipment of claim 6, characterised in that the pair of rolls are, rotating at the same speed, but in opposite directions and they have conical shape.

Inventors: DOEME LAJOS, KEZSMARKI ANDRAS, DOEME, LAJOS, KEZSMARKI, ANDRAS
Applicants: DOEME LAJOS, KEZSMARKI ANDRAS, DOEME, LAJOS, KEZSMARKI, ANDRAS
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B29B17
IPC codes: B29B17