Process using a paint composition for glass run channels

Abstract: A process for producing an automotive glass run. The process comprises the steps of: coating a silane-crosslinkable polyethylene onto a semi-finished product of the automotive glass run; drying and curing the coated product in a heating furnace; applying a silicone compound having an amino group onto the coated surface; and heating the silicone compound applied semi-finished product. The silane-crosslinkable polyethylene is as easily processable as common polyethylenes before crosslinking but, once processed, exhibits better sliding and wear-resistant properties than ultrahigh molecular-weight polyethylenes.

Description: The present invention relates to a process for producing automotive glass runs. Most automotive glass runs are coated with curable urethane-based paints on the surface of the substrate to impart it special functions such as wear resistance and slip property (sliding property) or provide it with better appearance. Conventionally, curable urethane-based paints of a solvent type have been used in the manufacture of automotive glass runs however, with the recent concern over the global environment and the health of working personnel, a need has arisen for a shift toward aqueous and other paints of a non-solvent type. However, water which is the medium for paints of the aqueous type have more latent heat of evaporation than solvents, so the aqueous paints require more heat than paints of the solvent type in order to dry up the water after application. In addition, unlike solvent-type paints that allow adjustment of volatilization temperature and rate by combining several kinds of solvents, aqueous-type paints require preliminary drying in order to prevent "flashing" due to nearly instantaneous volatilization of water. As a result, longer drying times are required by the aqueous paints and in order to deal with this low productivity problem, it becomes necessary to build a new drying oven for shifting from the solvent-type paint to the aqueous type. Most automotive glass runs use substrates that are made of thermosetting elastomers such as EPDM rubber (ethylene propylene rubber) or thermoplastic elastomers such as TPO (thermoplastic polyolefins) If thermoplastic elastomers are used as the substrate, drying should be carried out at a low temperatures of 150°C or below to prevent thermal deformation that would otherwise occur during post-application drying; however, if the paint applied is of the aqueous type, the drying operation is not highly productive since water is very difficult to dry. The EPDM rubber as an exemplary thermosetting elastomer is nonpolar and has low sticking property and it is also hydrophobic; hence, aqueous paints cannot produce a more adhesive coat than solvent-type paints. With a view to solving this problem, pretreatments such as corona discharge and primer application are conventionally applied to the substrate surface but problems still remain, such as high initial cost and the difficulty involved in performing positive pre-treatments on complexly shaped articles. Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide a process by which automotive glass runs having high wear resistance in the bottom portion while exhibiting high softness and flexibility in the lip portions can be produced efficiently and with minimum impact on the global environment. The object of the invention can be attained by a process for producing automotive glass runs which comprises the steps of extruding a semi-finished product of automotive glass run as while is continuously coated with a silane-crosslinkable polyethylene, then drying and curing the product in a heating furnace, or comprises the steps of extruding a semi-finished product of automotive glass run, heating it, immediately followed by continuous coating with a silane-crosslinkable polyethylene, then drying and curing the product in a heating furnace, or comprises the steps of unrolling a semi-finished extruded product of automotive glass run while it is continuously coated with a silane-crosslinkable polyethylene, each of which processes further comprises applying an urethane resin-based aqueous paint containing a silicone compound having an amino group or a solution thereof onto the silane-crosslinkable polyethylene coat, then heating the applied product in a heating furnace to dry and cure the applied aqueous paint, silicone compound or solution and to crosslink the silane-crosslinkable polyethylene. Particular embodiments and examples in accordance with this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing; in which:- Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an abrasion tester according to a method specified by the Japan Society for Promotion of Scientific Research; Fig. 2 is an illustration of a glass run product; Fig. 3 is an illustration of another type of glass run product; and Fig. 4 illustrates how a glass run product is subjected to an abrasion test or a sliding resistance test. The curable urethane-based emulsion paint which is used as the base of the paint composition is a urethane-based emulsion paint which typically uses an isocyanate-, melamine-, epoxy- or carbodiimide-based curing agent. Examples of the silane coupling agent having an amino group include γ-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and N-β- (aminoethyl) -γ-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane. Examples of the silane coupling agent having an epoxy group include -γ-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, γ-glycidoxypropyltriethoxysilane and β-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl) ethyltrimethoxysilane. Examples of the silane coupling agent having a methacryloxy group include γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, γ-methacryloxypropyltriethoxysilane, γ-methacryloxypropylmethyldiethoxysilane and 3-acryloxypropylmethoxysilane. At least two of the silane coupling agents listed above or their reaction product is preferably added in an amount of 10 to 40 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the involatile content in the base curable urethane-based emulsion paint. The following is the description of a mode for carrying out the invention as it relates to a process for producing automative glass runs. The urethane-based aqueous paint may be a urethane-based emulsion paint which typically uses an isocyanate-, melamine-, epoxy- or carbodiimide-based curing agent. The silane-crosslinkable polyethylene which is to be applied to the bottom portion of a semi-finished extruded product of automotive glass run is as easily processable as common polyethylenes before crosslinking but, once processed, exhibits better sliding and wear-resistant properties than ultrahigh molecular-weight polyethylenes; hence, the silane-crosslinkable polyethylene is suitable for use as a sliding member in the bottom portions of glass runs that require high wear resistance. The silane-crosslinkable polyethylene reacts with water and condenses through the removal of alcohol to thereby become cross linked. If the aqueous paint containing the silicone compound having an amino group is applied to the silane-crosslinkable polyethylene coat, which is then dried and cured in a heating furnace, the water in the aqueous paint and the silicone compound having an amino group which has a catalytic action in the condensation of silane crosslinks by removal of alcohol work together to cause rapid crosslinking and curing of the applied silane-crosslinkable polyethylene coat. The silicone compound having an amino group offers the added advantage of promoting the curing of the as-applied aqueous paint film, thereby increasing its adhesion to the EPDM rubber or silane-crosslinkable polyethylene. The lip portions of glass runs do not require as high wear resistance as their bottom portions. On the other hand, they should have better sealing and handling properties, higher ability to prevent rattling sound and dust scratching, and more attractive appearance; therefore, the sliding member to be used in the lip portions should not impair the softness and flexibility of the substrate rubber and is suitably based on polyurethane resins. Preferred examples of the silicone compound having an amino group include aminosilane coupling agents such as γ-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and N-β-(aminoethyl)-γ-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, as well as amino-modified silicone oils. The silicone compound having an amino group is preferably incorporated in amounts ranging from 2 to 15 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the involatile content of the aqueous paint. Coating with the silane-crosslinkable polyethylene may be accomplished by co-extrusion with rubber or it may be applied after vulcanization while the rubber is still hot. EXAMPLES The present invention is illustrated in greater detail below with reference to the following Examples, but the invention should not be construed as being limited thereto. EXAMPLES 1-3 AND COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 1-3 The data in Table 1 demonstrates the advantages of the process for producing a glass run according to the invention. Glass run products made using γ-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane as a compound having an amino group were tested for wear resistance, resistance to sliding and adhesion to EPDM rubber and crosslinked polyethylene (PE). The results are shown in Table 1 together with those of comparative products. The processes for producing automotive glass runs according to the present invention are such that by using these processes, automotive glass runs having high wear resistance in the bottom portion while exhibiting high softness and flexibility in the lip portions can be produced efficiently and with minimum impact on the global environment.

Claims: A process for producing an automotive glass run, comprising: coating a silane-crosslinkable polyethylene onto a semi-finished product of the automotive glass run; drying and curing the coated product in a heating furnace; applying a silicone compound having an amino group onto the coated surface; and heating the silicone compound applied semi-finished product. The process according to claim 1, wherein said silicone compound having an amino group which is to be applied is contained in a urethane resin-based aqueous paint. The process according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said silicone compound having an amino group is applied in the form of a solution.

Inventors: MATSUMOTO KEOGO, SATO NOBUMASA, TOMOHIRO SEI, MATSUMOTO, KEOGO, SATO, NOBUMASA, TOMOHIRO, SEI, Matsumoto, Keogo, Nishikawa Rubber Co. Ltd., Sato, Nobumasa, Nishikawa Rubber Co. Ltd., Tomohiro, Sei, Nishikawa Rubber Co. Ltd.
Applicants: NISHIKAWA RUBBER CO LTD, NISHIKAWA RUBBER CO., LTD.
Application year: 2001
Main classification: C08K5
IPC codes: C08K5, C08G18, C09D175