Patent GB-1116923-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to ropes, strands and cores
Inventor: CAMPBELL ROBERT EDWARD
IPC: D07B1/16
Filed: 1964-08-20
Abstract: An anti-fouling composition, for application to ropes, strands or cores, comprises a thermoplastic elastomer and an anti-fouling agent which is a metal, particularly copper, tin, lead, mercury, beryllium, barium and zinc, oxides thereof, or an organometallic compound, e.g. tributyl oxides of tin, and which, either singly or admixed, exhibits when in contact with water poisonous characteristics towards marine fauna or flora.  The agent may be present between 5 and 60% of the weight of the elastomer.  The elastomer may be a composition of two or more elastomeric materials intimately mixed together.  Elastomers specified are polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, nylon, polyethylene and polypropylene.  The agent, in powder form, may be dispersed in the elastomer, in granular form, by a rumbling technique. An extender or plasticizer, e.g. dioctyl phthalate, may be rumbled with the granules before the anti-fouling agent is added, or may be mixed with the agent before rumbling with the granules of elastomer.  The granules may be heated during rumbling to soften the surface thereof to enable the anti-fouling agent to adhere thereto. The rumbling may be carried out in an inert gaseous atmosphere.ALSO:A rope, strand or core having a thermoplastic elastomer coating or impregnation has an anti fouling agent which is a metal, particularly copper, tin, lead, mercury, beryllium, barium and zinc, oxides thereof, or organo metallic compound e.g. tributyl oxides of tin, and which, either singly or admixed, exhibits when in contact with water poisonous characteristics towards marine fauna or flora, dispersed in the elastomer which is permeable to allow release of the agent.  The agent may be dispersed in the elastomer and the composition applied as a permeable coating by extrusion or as a permeable impregnation. The composition may be extruded onto a sheathing, which may be of plastic, providing an impervious barrier to protect the rope, strand or core, which may be of steel, jute, sisal, polypropylene or polyethylene, from entry of water or other corrosive fluid and from galvanic action.  The agent, in powder form, may be dispersed in the elastomer, in granular form, by a rumbling technique.  An extender or plasticizer may be rumbled with the granules before the anti fouling agent is added, or may be intimately mixed with the agent before rumbling with the granules of elastomer.  The granules may be heated during rumbling to soften the surface thereof to enable the anti fouling agent to adhere thereto.  The rumbling may be carried out in an inert gaseous atmosphere.  The anti-fouling agent may be present between 5 and 60% of the weight of the elastomer.  The elastomer may be a composition of two or more elastomeric materials intimately mixed together and the anti-fouling agent may be dispersed throughout the mixture. Specified elastomers are polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, nylon, polyethylene and polypropylene.ALSO:A rope, strand or core having a thermoplastic elastomer coating or impregnation has an anti-fouling agent which is a metal, particularly copper, tin, lead, mercury, beryllium, barium and zinc, oxides thereof, or organo metallic compounds e.g. tributyl oxides of tin, and which either singly or admixed, exhibits when in contact with water, poisonous characteristics towards marine fauna or flora, dispersed in the elastomer which is permeable to allow release of the agent.  The agent may be dispersed in the elastomer and the composition applied as a permeable coating by extrusion or as a permeable impregnation. The composition may be extruded onto a sheathing, which may be of plastic, providing an impervious barrier to protect the rope, strand or core, which may be of steel, jute, sisal, polypropylene or polyethylene, from entry of water or other corrosive fluid and from galvanic action.  The agent, in powder form, may be dispersed in the elastomer, in granular form, by a rumbling technique.  An extender or plasticizer may be rumbled with the granules before the anti fouling agent is added, or may be intimately mixed with the agent before rumbling with the granules of elastomer.  The granules may be heated during rumbling to soften the surface thereof to enable the anti fouling agent to adhere thereto.  The rumbling may be carried out in an inert gaseous atmosphere.  The anti-fouling agent may be present between 5 and 60% of the weight of the elastomer.  The elastomer may be a composition of two or more elastomeric materials intimately mixed together and the anti-fouling agent may be dispersed throughout the mixture.  Specified elastomers are polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, nylon, polyethylene and polypropylene.