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Patent US5283289 - Fiber-reinforced rubber composition and production process thereof and fiber ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA fiber-reinforced rubber composition capable of providing a vulcanizate having an excellent strength and modulus and a production process thereof. This fiber-reinforced rubber composition includes fine short fibers of thermoplastic polymer having ##STR1## groups buried in vulcanizable rubber. The vulcanizable...http://www.google.com/patents/US5283289?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5283289 - Fiber-reinforced rubber composition and production process thereof and fiber-reinforced elastic productAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS5283289 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 07/717,572Publication dateFeb 1, 1994Filing dateJun 19, 1991Priority dateNov 5, 1981Fee statusLapsedPublication number07717572, 717572, US 5283289 A, US 5283289A, US-A-5283289, US5283289 A, US5283289AInventorsShinji Yamamoto, Kouhei Kaijiri, Kouichi Nagakura, Denichi Oda, Yasuo Matsumori, Kimio NakayamaOriginal AssigneeUbe Industries, Ltd.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (3), Referenced by (5), Classifications (13), Legal Events (4) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetFiber-reinforced rubber composition and production process thereof and fiber-reinforced elastic productUS 5283289 AAbstract A fiber-reinforced rubber composition capable of providing a vulcanizate having an excellent strength and modulus and a production process thereof. This fiber-reinforced rubber composition includes fine short fibers of thermoplastic polymer having ##STR1## groups buried in vulcanizable rubber. The vulcanizable rubber and the thermoplastic polymer are grafted to each other through a resol type alkylphenol formaldehyde resin precondensate or a novolak type phenol formaldehyde resin precondensate at an interface of the fiber. The ratio of the fiber to the vulcanizable rubber (A) 1 to 70 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the rubber in the case of the resol type alkylphenol formaldehyde resin precondensate or (B) 1 to 100 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the rubber in the case of the novolak type phenol formaldehyde resin precondensate.
We claim: 1. A process for producing a fiber-reinforced elastic product comprising the steps of:(1) preparing a compound of a fiber-reinforced rubber composition and a vulcanizing agent wherein:(A) said fiber-reinforced rubber composition comprises a vulcanizable rubber in which fine short fibers of polyamide are buried: (B) said fine short fibers of polyamide having an average diameter of 0.05 to 0.8 μm; (C) said vulcanizable rubber and said fine short fibers of polyamide are grafted to each other at an interface of said fine short fibers and said vulcanizable rubber, by a process comprising the steps of:(a) mixing at a temperature of not less than the melting point of said polyamide but not more than 270� C.:a vulcanizable rubber, a polyamide, and a resol alkylphenol formaldehyde resin precondensate, or a novolak phenol formaldehyde resin precondensate and a compound capable of producing formaldehyde upon heating together to form a mixture. (b) extruding said mixture at a temperature of not less than the melting point of said polyamide, but not more than 270� C. to form an extrudate; and (c) drawing said extrudate at a temperature of less than the melting point of said fine short fibers of polyamide;(i) the amount of said fine short fibers of polyamide in said compositions being 1 to 70 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of said vulcanizable rubber in the case of said resol alkylphenol formaldehyde resin precondensate and the amount of said resol alkylphenol formaldehyde precondensate being 0.2 to 2.5 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of said vulcanizable rubber and said fine short fibers of polyamide, when said resol alkylphenol formaldehyde precondensate is employed to join said fine short fibers of polyamide and said vulcanizable rubber or (ii) the amount of said fine short fibers being 1 to 100 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of said vulcanizable rubber in the case of said novolak phenol formaldehyde resin precondensate and the amount of said novolak phenol formaldehyde precondensate being 0.2 to 5.0 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of said vulcanizable rubber and said fine short fibers of polyamide, when said novolak phenol formaldehyde precondensate is employed to join said fine short fibers of polyamide and said vulcanizable rubber; and (2) vulcanizing the resultant compound. 2. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vulcanizable rubber is natural rubber, cis-1,4-polybutadiene, polyisoprene, polychloroprene, styrene-butadiene copolymer rubber, isoprene-isobutylene copolymer rubber, ethylene-propylene-unconjugated diene terpolymer or any mixture thereof.
3. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vulcanizable rubber is natural rubber.
4. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said compound is prepared from said fiber-reinforced rubber composition, a vulcanizing agent, and additional vulcanizable rubber, the amount of said fibers being 1 to 20 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the total vulcanizable rubber in said compound.
5. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the ratio of the vulcanizable rubber grafted onto the fibers compared to the fibers, is 3% to 25% by weight.
6. A process as claimed in claim 4 wherein the graft ratio is 3% to 25% by weight.
7. A process as claimed in claim 4, wherein said vulcanizable rubber is natural rubber, cis-1,4-polybutadiene, polyisoprene, polychloroprene, styrene-butadiene copolymer rubber, isoprene-isobutylene copolymer rubber, ethylene-propylene-unconjugated diene terpolymer or any mixture thereof.
8. A process as claimed in claim 4, wherein said vulcanizable rubber is natural rubber.
9. A fiber-reinforced product prepared in accordance with the process of claim 1.
10. A fiber-reinforced product prepared in accordance with the process of claim 4.
11. A fiber-reinforced rubber composition comprising vulcanizable rubber in which fine short fibers of fiber-forming polyamide having ##STR22## groups are buried, wherein: the average diameter of said fine short fibers is 0.05 to 0.8 μm;said vulcanizable rubber and said polyamide fibers are grafted to each other through (i) a resol alkylphenol formaldehyde resin precondensate, or (ii) a novolak phenol formaldehyde resin precondensate, by heating a mixture of said vulcanizable rubber, said polyamide, and (i) the resol alkylphenol formaldehyde resin precondensate, or (ii) the novolak phenol formaldehyde resin precondensate, and a compound capable of producing formaldehyde, at a temperature of not less than the melting point of said polyamide but not more than 270� C.; the amount of said fibers in said composition is (A) 1 to 70 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the rubber when the resol alkylphenol formaldehyde resin precondensate is employed, or (B) 1 to 100 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the rubber when the novolak phenol formaldehyde resin precondensate is employed; the amount of the resol alkylphenol formaldehyde resin precondensate or the novolak phenol formaldehyde resin precondensate is 0.2 to 2.5 parts by weight of said resol alkylphenol formaldehyde resin precondensate or 0.2 to 5 parts by weight of said novolak phenol formaldehyde resin precondensate based on 100 parts by weight of said vulcanizable rubber and said polyamide. 12. A fiber-reinforced rubber composition as claimed in claim 11 wherein, the ratio of the vulcanizable rubber grafted onto the fibers compared to the fibers is 3% to 25% by weight.
13. A fiber-reinforced rubber composition as claimed in claim 11, wherein said vulcanizable rubber is natural rubber, cis-1,4-polybutadiene, polyisoprene, polychloroprene, styrene-butadiene copolymer rubber, isoprene-isobutylene copolymer rubber, ethylene-propylene-unconjugated diene terpolymer or any mixture thereof.
14. A fiber-reinforced rubber composition as claimed in claim 11, wherein said vulcanizable rubber is natural rubber.
15. A vulcanizate of the fiber-reinforced rubber composition of claim 11.
16. A process for producing a fiber-reinforced rubber composition comprising the steps of:mixing vulcanizable rubber, 1 to 100 parts by weight of fiber-forming polyamide based on 100 parts by weight of the vulcanizable rubber, said polyamide having ##STR23## groups and having a number-average molecular weight of less than 200,000, 0.2 to 5 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the total amount of the rubber and the polyamide, of a novolak phenol formaldehyde resin precondensate, and a compound capable of producing formaldehyde upon heating together at a temperature of not less than the melting point of the polyamide, but not more than 270� C.; extruding the mixture from an extruder at a temperature of not less than the melting point of the polyamide, but not more than 270� C.; and drawing an extrudate at a temperature of less than the melting point of the polyamide. 17. A fiber-reinforced rubber composition prepared in accordance with the process of claim 16.
18. A fiber-reinforced rubber composition as claimed in claim 17, wherein the melting point of said polyamide is 190� C. to 235� C.
19. A fiber-reinforced composition as claimed in claim 17, wherein the novolak phenol formaldehyde resin precondensate is a precondensate having the formula ##STR24## wherein R1, R2 and R3 are independently a hydrogen atom, or an alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, p is 1 or 2, and q is a number of 0 to 13;a styrenated phenol-phenol-formaldehyde resin precondensate; a p-cumylphenol-formaldehyde resin precondensate; a phenyl phenol-formaldehyde resin precondensate; a lactam-bisphenol F-formaldehyde resin precondensate; a bisphenol A-formaldehyde resin precondensate; or a xylenol-formaldehyde resin precondensate. 20. A fiber-reinforced rubber composition as claimed in claim 17 wherein the compound capable of producing formaldehyde upon heating is used in an amount of 0.02 to 1 part by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the vulcanizable rubber.
This is a division of application Ser. No. 07/045,536, filed May 4, 1987, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,043,388, which is a division of U.S. Ser. No. 06/788,524 filed Oct. 21, 1985, now U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 4,703,086, which is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 06/439,176 filed Nov. 4, 1982, now abandoned.
Under these circumstances, U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,850 proposes a process for producing fiber-reinforced elastic articles in which the disadvantages of the known fiber-reinforced rubber compositions are solved by mixing vulcanizable rubber and powdered 1,2-polybutadiene, followed by extruding and rolling. The production of fiber-reinforced rubber compositions capable of providing reinforced vulcanizates having an excellent strength and modulus is described in the examples of U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,850. However, 1,2-polybutadiene, which is used as the fiber-forming polymer, has a 1-2 structure content of 80% or more and a melting point of 130� or more. The strength of fibers formed from 1,2-polybutadiene is small. The fiber-reinforced rubber compositions thus produced, therefore, have disadvantages in that, the fibers break into shorter fiber lengths during the rubber processing, especially the kneading thereof with carbon black, and the modulus of vulcanizates thereof at a low elongation decreases. Furthermore, fatigue properties of the fiber-reinforced elastic articles, especially under severe conditions of a high temperature and a high stress, are not sufficient. As a result, these fiber-reinforced elastic articles cannot be used as belts or inner members of a tire, such as a carcass and a bead.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a fiber-reinforced rubber composition comprising vulcanizable rubber including fine short fibers of thermoplastic polymer having ##STR2## groups buried therein, wherein: the vulcanizable rubber and the thermoplastic polymer are grafted to each other through a resol type alkylphenol formaldehyde resin precondensate or a novolak type phenol formaldehyde resin precondensate at an interface of the fiber; and the ratio of the fiber to the vulcanizable rubber is (A) 1 to 70 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the rubber in the case of the resol type alkylphenol formaldehyde resin precondensate or (B) 1 to 100 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the rubber in the case of the novolak type phenol formaldehyde resin precondensate.
In accordance with the present invention, there is also provided a process for producing a fiber-reinforced rubber composition comprising the steps of: mixing vulcanizable rubber, a thermoplastic polymer having ##STR3## groups and having a number-average molecular weight of less than 200000, and 0.2 to 2.5 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the total amount of the rubber and the thermoplastic polymer, of a resol type alkylphenol formaldehyde resin precondensate together at a temperature of not less than the melting point of the thermoplastic polymer, but not more than 270�C.; optionally adding an additional amount of the vulcanizable rubber to the mixture as long as the ratio of the thermoplastic polymer to the vulcanizable rubber in the resultant mixture is within a range of 1 to 70 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the vulcanizable rubber and further mixing the resultant mixture at a temperature of not less than the melting point of the thermoplastic polymer but not more than 270� C.; extruding the mixture from an extruder at a temperature of not less than the melting point of the thermoplastic polymer but not more than 270� C.; and drawing an extrudate at a temperature of less than the melting point of the thermoplastic polymer.
In accordance with the present invention, there is further provided a process for producing a fiber-reinforced rubber composition comprising the steps of: mixing vulcanizable rubber, thermoplastic polymer having ##STR4## groups and having a number-average molecular weight of less than 200000, 0.2 to 5 parts by weight , based on 100 parts by weight of the total amount of the rubber and the thermoplastic polymer, of a novolak type phenol formaldehyde resin precondensate and a compound capable of producing formaldehyde upon heating together at a temperature of not less than the melting point of the thermoplastic polymer, but not more than 270� C.; optionally adding an additional amount of the vulcanizable rubber to the mixture as long as the ratio of the thermoplastic polymer to the vulcanizable rubber in the resultant mixture is within a range of 1 to 100 parts by weight of the thermoplastic polymer based on 100 parts by weight of the vulcanizable rubber and further mixing the resultant mixture at a temperature of not less than the melting point of the thermoplastic polymer but not more than 270� C.; extruding the mixture from an extruder at a temperature of not less than the melting point of the thermoplastic polymer but not more than 270� C.; and drawing an extrudate at a temperature of less than the melting point of the thermoplastic polymer.
(1) preparing a compound of a fiber-reinforced rubber composition and a vulcanizing agent and optional vulcanizable rubber in such an amount that the amount of the fine short fiber of the thermoplastic polymer is 1 to 20 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the total vulcanizable rubber, said fiber-reinforced rubber composition comprising a vulcanizable rubber including fine short fibers of thermoplastic polymer having ##STR5## groups buried therein, wherein: said vulcanizable rubber and said thermoplastic polymer are grafted to each other through a resol type alkylphenol formaldehyde resin precondensate or a novolak type phenol formaldehyde resin precondensate at an interface of the fiber; and
the ratio of the fiber to the vulcanizable rubber (A) 1 to 70 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the rubber in the case of the resol type alkylphenol formaldehyde resin precondensate or (B) 1 to 100 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the rubber in the case of the novolak type phenol formaldehyde resin precondensate; and
According to the present invention, a thermoplastic polymer having ##STR7## groups is buried in the above-mentioned vulcanizable rubber in the form of fine short fibers in an amount of (A) 1 to 70 parts by weight, desirably 10 to 60 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the rubber in the case of the resol type alkylphenol formaldehyde resin precondensate or (B) 1 to 100 parts by weight, desirably 1 to 70 parts by weight and more desirably 30 to 70 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the rubber in the case of the novolak type phenol formaldehyde resin precondensate. The thermoplastic polymer having ##STR8## groups is grafted to the vulcanizable rubber through a crosslinking agent, i.e., a resol type alkylphenol formaldehyde precondensate or a novolak type phenol formaldehyde resin precondensate at an interface of the fiber of the thermoplastic resin.
Typical examples of the above-mentioned thermoplastic resin having ##STR9## groups are those having a melting point of 190� C. to 235� C., desirably 190� C. to 225� C. and more desirably 200� C. to 220� C., for example, nylon such as nylon 6, nylon 610, nylon 12, nylon 611, and nylon 612; polyurea such as polyheptamethylene urea and polyundecamethylene urea; and polyurethane. These materials can be used alone or in any mixture thereof.
The resol type alkylphenol formaldehyde resin precondensates usable in the present invention are resinous crosslinking agents having the general formula: ##STR10## wherein R is an alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, or a combination of said alkyl group and a hydrogen atom; X is a hydroxyl group or a halogen atom such as chlorine or bromine; m is 1 or 2; and n is a number of 2 to 15. Typical examples of such precondensates are resol-type precondensates or their modified products, obtained from reactions of alkylphenols such as cresol with formaldehyde or acetaldehyde in the presence of an alkaline catalyst. Precondensates having two or more methylol groups in one molecule are desirably used in the present invention. Examples of the commercially available resinous crosslinking agents are: Sumilite Resin PR-22193, Sumilite Resin PR-50994, Sumilite Resin PR-175, Sumilite Resin PR-50530, Sumilite Resin PR-51466, Sumilite Resin PR-22193, and Sumilite Resin PR-28633 (all manufactured by Sumitomo Durez Co., Ltd.); Tackiroll 201, Tackiroll 250-I, Tackiroll 250-II, and Tackiroll 250-III (all manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.); pp-4507 (Gunei Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.); Tamanol 521 (Arakawa Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.); Schenectady SP1059, and Schenectady SP1055 (both manufactured by Schenectady Chemicals Co., Ltd.); CRR-0803 (Union Carbide Co., Ltd.); Synphorm C1000 and C1001 (both manufactured by Anchor Chemicals Co., Ltd.); and Vulkaresat 510E and 532E, Vulkaresen 105E and 130E, and Vulkaresol 315E (all manufactured by Hoechst & Chemicals, Ltd.). Alkylphenol formaldehyde resin precondensates containing various compounded additives such as a thickener, a solvent, and a plasticizer may also be used in the present invention.
The novolak type phenol formaldehyde resin precondensates usable in the present invention are soluble and meltable resins or their modified products, obtained from condensation reactions of phenols such as phenol or bisphenol with formaldehyde (or paraformaldehyde) in the presence of a known acidic catalyst such as sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, or oxalic acid. Typical examples of the novolak type phenol formaldehyde resin precondensates desirably usable in the present invention are novolak type phenol formaldehyde resin precondensates having the general formula ##STR11## wherein R1, R2 and R3 are independently a hydrogen atom, or an alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, p is 1 or 2, and q is a number of 0 to 13; or
a xylenol-formaldehyde resin precondensate;
or the denatured phenol-formaldehyde resin precondensates with cashew nut shell liquid, rosin, drying oil or synthetic rubber.
(1) In the case of a resol type alkylphenol formaldehyde resin precondensate having methylol groups (--CH2 OH), the graft bonding is formed by (i) a dehydration reaction between a hydrogen atom of a methylene group in the vulcanizable rubber molecule and a hydroxyl group of a methylol group in the alkylphenol formaldehyde resin precondensate molecule and (ii) a dehydration reaction between a hydrogen atom of a group ##STR13## of thermoplastic polymer molecule and a hydroxyl group of the remaining methylol group of the alkylphenol formaldehyde resin precondensate molecule.
The desirable graft ratio of the present fiber-reinforced rubber composition is desirably 3% to 25% by weight, more desirably 5% to 20% by weight. The term "graft ratio" used herein means the percent ratio of the weight of the vulcanizable rubber graft bonded to the fiber of the thermoplastic polymer having ##STR15## groups in an interface of the fiber to the weight of the thermoplastic polymer fiber buried in the vulcanizable rubber (i.e., vulcanizable rubber/thermoplastic polymer fiber�100).
When the resol type alkylphenol formaldehyde resin precondensate is used, the vulcanizable rubber, the thermoplastic polymer having ##STR16## groups and having a number-average molecular weight of less than 200,000, desirably 10,000 to 100,000, and 0.2 to 2.5 parts by weight, desirably 0.7 to 2.0 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the total amount of the rubber and the thermoplastic polymer, of the resol type alkylphenol formaldehyde resin precondensate are first mixed together at a temperature of not less than, desirably not less than 5� C. plus, the melting point of the thermoplastic polymer, but not more than 270� C., desirably not more than 260� C. The mixing can be carried out using any conventional mixing or kneading device, for example, a Brabender-Plastograph, a Banbury mixer, a roll mill, and an extruder. The desirable mixing time is 1 to 15 minutes.
The order of the addition of the above-mentioned components in the first mixing step of the present invention is not specifically limited. In order to prevent gelation of the vulcanizable rubber during the mixing step and the subsequent extruding step, a conventional low volatile antioxidant (i.e., an aging preventing agent) can be compounded in the vulcanizable rubber Examples of such antioxidants are N-(3-methacryloyloxy-2-hydroxypropyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine, phenyl-β-naphthylamine, phenyl-α-naphthylamine, aldol-β-naphthylamine, a reaction product of phenyl-naphthylamine and acetone, p-isopropoxydiphenylamine, p-(p-toluene sulfonylamide)-diphenylamine, a reaction product of diphenylamine and acetone, a reaction product of diphenylamine and diisobutylene, N,N'-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine, N-isopropyl-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine, N-cyclohexyl-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine, N,N'-bis(1,4-dimethylpentyl)-p-phenylenediamine, a polymer of 2.2.4-trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline, 6-dodecyl-2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol, 6-tert-butyl-3-methylphenol derivatives, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-n-butylphenol, 4-hydroxymethyl-2,6-di-tert-butylphenol, 2-methyl-4,6-dinonylphenol, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-α-dimethylamine-p-cresol, 2,2-methylene-bis(4-methyl-6-cyclohexylphenol), 4,4'-methylene-bis(2,6-di-tert-butylphenol), 2,2'-methylene-bis(6-α-methyl-benzyl-p-cresol), 4,4'-butylidenebis(3-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol), and 2,2'-dihydroxy-3,3'-di(α-methylcyclohexyl)-5,5'-dimethyldiphenylmethane.
The mixture of the vulcanizable rubber, the thermoplastic polymer, and the resol type alkylphenol formaldehyde resin precondensate obtained in the first mixing step can be directly extruded as long as the ratio of the thermoplastic polymer to the vulcanizable rubber in the mixture is within the range of 1 to 70 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the vulcanizable rubber. However, when the ratio of the thermoplastic polymer to the vulcanizable rubber is more than 1 part by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the vulcanizable rubber, an additional amount of vulcanizable rubber, which may be the same as or different from the vulcanizable rubber used in the first mixing step, can be added to the mixture so that the ratio of the thermoplastic polymer to the vulcanizable rubber in the resultant mixture is within the range of 1 to 70 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the vulcanizable rubber. The additional mixing can be effected under the same conditions as those of the first mixing step.
When the novolalk type phenol formaldehyde resin precondensate is used, the vulcanizable rubber, the thermoplastic polymer having ##STR18## groups and having a number-average molecular weight of less than 200,000, desirably 10,000 to 100,000, 0.2 to 5 parts by weight, desirably 0.5 to 5 parts by weight, and more desirably 0.5 to 3 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the total amount of the rubber and the thermoplastic polymer, of the novolak type phenol formaldehyde resin precondensate, and a compound capable of producing formaldehyde upon heating (i.e., formaldehyde producing compound) are first mixed together at a temperature of not less than, desirably not less than 5� C. plus, the melting point of the thermoplastic polymer, but not more than 270� C., desirably not more than 260� C. The mixing can be carried out using any conventional mixing or kneading device, for example, a Brabender-Plastograph, a Banbury mixer, a roll mill and an extruder. The desirable mixing time is 1 to 15 minutes.
The mixing ratio of the rubber and the thermoplastic polymer in the first step can be 1 to 2000 parts by weight, desirably 1 to 100 parts by weight, and more desirably 1 to 70 parts by weight, of the thermoplastic polymer having ##STR19## groups, based on 100 parts of the vulcanizable rubber. Thus, the vulcanizable rubber and the thermoplastic polymer are effectively grafted to each other through the novolak type phenol formaldehyde resin precondensate by action of the formaldehyde producing compound.
The order of the addition of the above-mentioned components in the first mixing step of the present invention is not specifically limited. However, the following method is most desirable. That is, the vulcanizable rubber and, optionally, an antioxidant are first charged into a mixing device to effect mastication of the rubber. Then, the thermoplastic polymer having ##STR21## groups is charged into the mixing device to effect the mixing. The thermoplastic polymer is melted during the mixing and, as a result, the thermoplastic polymer is dispersed in the vulcanizable rubber. Thereafter, the novolak type phenol formaldehyde resin precondensate is charged into the mixing device. After mixing, the formaldehyde producing substance is charged, and the mixing is effected for 1 to 15 minutes. As mentioned hereinabove, a conventional low volatile antioxidant can be compounded in the vulcanizable rubber, if desired.
The mixture of the vulcanizable rubber, the thermoplastic polymer, the novolak type phenol formaldehyde resin precondensate, and the formaldehyde producing compound obtained in the first mixing step can be directly extruded as long as the ratio of the thermoplastic polymer to the vulcanizable rubber in the mixture is within the range of 1 to 100 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the vulcanizable rubber. However, when the ratio of the thermoplastic polymer to the vulcanizable rubber is more than 1 part by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the vulcanizable rubber, an additional amount of vulcanizable rubber, which may be the same as or different from the vulcanizable rubber used in the first mixing step, can be added to the mixture so that the ratio of the thermoplastic polymer to the vulcanizable rubber in the resultant mixture is within the range of 1 to 100 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the vulcanizable rubber. The additional mixing can be effected under the same conditions as those of the first mixing step. Thus, the thermoplastic polymer is uniformly and finely dispersed in the vulcanizable rubber. The particle size of the dispersed thermoplastic polymer is generally 1 to 2 μm.
The mixture obtained above is then extruded by any conventional extruding means, e.g., a screw type extruder, at a temperature of not less than, desirably not less than 5� C. plus, the melting point of the thermoplastic polymer, but not more than 270� C., desirably not more than 260� C. The extrusion of the mixture may be carried out through a die such as a circular die or a rectangular die to form an extrudate in the form of a strand or sheet. In the case of a circular die, the use of a circular die having an inner diameter of the extruding nozzle of 0.1 to 5 mm and having the ratio (L/D) of length (L) to the inner diameter (D) of 1 to 20 is desirable. In the case of a rectangular die, the use of a rectangular die having a slit gap of 0.1 to 5 mm, a width of 0.2 to 200 mm, and a length of a die land of 10 to 20 mm is desirable. Of these dies, the use of a circular die is desirable. Circular dies having one extruding nozzle and many extruding nozzles (i.e., multifold type) can also be used in the practice of the present invention.
The extrudate obtained above is first cooled to a temperature of less than the melting point of the thermoplastic polymer by air cooling, water cooling, or inert solvent cooling (e.g., cooling in which cooled methanol is used) or by making the distance between the die and the winding machine (or take-up machine) longer, desirably while the extrudate is continuously stretched. The cooled extrudate is wound by a winding machine such as a bobbin or take-up rolls. Thus, the spherical particles of the thermoplastic polymer in the rubber are transformed into fibers under the stress applied to the extrudate by the taking-up operation. The desirable winding rate is 1 to 100 m/min and more desirably 20 to 40 m/min. The desirable temperature of the winding machine during winding of the extrudate is 0� C. to 100� C., and the desirable draft ratio is 1.5 to 50, more desirably 3 to 20. When the extrudate is taken-up or wound without cooling, a portion of the fibrous thermoplastic polymer often becomes flat (a film in the extreme case) and, therefore, it is liable that good results cannot be obtained.
The cooled extrudate is rolled by means of a pair of pressure rolls or is subjected to a uniaxial drawing by means of a pair of draft rolls. The extrudate is desirably rolled by means of a pair of pressure rolls in such a manner that the rolled extrudate has a diameter or a thickness of two-thirds or less of that of the original extrudate and a thickness of 0.02 mm or more. The desirable pressure roll temperature is 0� C. to 100� C. The desirable draw ratio is 1.1 to 10 and the desirable draft roll temperature is 0� C. to 100� C.
The vulcanizing agents usable in vulcanization of the present fiber-reinforced rubber composition can be any conventional vulcanizing agent such as sulfur, organic peroxides, and sulfur-containing compounds. The compounding of the vulcanizing agent into the fiber-reinforced rubber composition can be carried out in any conventional manner. The desirable amount of the vulcanizing agent is 0.5 to 10 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the rubber.
Various conventional additives can also be used in the vulcanization of the present fiber-reinforced rubber composition. Examples of such additives are: reinforcing agents such as various grades of carbon black, white carbon, activated calcium carbonate, ultrafinely powdered magnesium silicate, high styrene resin, cumarone-indene resin, phenol resin, lignin, modified melamine resin, petroleum resin; fillers such as various grades of calcium carbonate, basic magnesium carbonate, clay, zinc oxide, diatomaceous earth, reclaimed rubber, powdered rubber, and ebonite powder; vulcanization accelerators such as aldehyde ammonias, aldehydeamines, guanidines, thioureas, thiazoles, thiurams, dithiocarbamates, and xanthates; vulcanization accelerator aids such as metal oxides and fatty acids,; and antioxidants such as aminealdehydes, amineketones, amines, phenols, imidazoles, and sulfur-containing; and phosphorous-containing antioxidants.
The vulcanization per se can be carried out by any conventional method. Although the vulcanization temperature largely depends on the kind of the vulcanizable rubber to be vulcanized and the intended use of the vulcanizate, it is generally 120� C. to 180� C.
The present invention will now be further illustrated by, but is by no means limited to, the following examples, all parts and percentages are expressed on a weight basis unless otherwise specified. The physical properties, other than fatigue and abrasion, of vulcanizates obtained from fiber-reinforced rubber compositions of the following examples were determined according to JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards) K 6301 methods. Mooney viscosities ML1+4 (100� C.) of fiber-reinforced rubber compounds were determined according to a JIS K 6300 method.
EXAMPLE 1 Thirty five parts of natural rubber (NR) having a viscosity of 1�106 poise was charged into a Brabender Plastograph and was masticated at a temperature of 245� C. at a rotor revolution number of 50 rpm for a period of 30 seconds. Then, 0.126 parts of alkylphenol formaldehyde resin (Tamanol 521, manufactured by Arakawa Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) was charged and was mixed for a period of 30 seconds. Thereafter, 7 parts of 6-nylon (6-nylon 1030 B manufactured by Ube Industries, Ltd., melting point 221� C., molecular weight 30000) was charged and was further mixed at a temperature of 245� C. for a period of 4 minutes.
The resultant mixture was extruded at a die temperature of 245� C. into a strand having a diameter of about 2 mm by using an extruder provided with a circular die having an inner nozzle diameter of 2 mm and a ratio (L/D) of a length L to an inner diameter D of 2 (manufactured by Haake Co.). The strand was wound on a bobbin through a funnel located at a position perpendicularly downward from the nozzle and guide rolls at a draft ratio of 7. The funnel was assembled such that a cooling water having a temperature of 0� C. was circulated through the funnel to a cooling water reservoir located at a position perpendicularly downward from the funnel by means of a pump and a piping system. The wound strand was vacuum dried at a room temperature for one day to remove the attached water therefrom and, then, was rolled by using a pair of pressure rolls having a temperature of 60� C. and a roll nip of 0.1 mm. Thus, a fiber-reinforced rubber composition (sample 1) was obtained.
Determination of Graft Ratio Two grams of the fiber-reinforced rubber composition obtained above was added to 200 ml of benzene at a room temperature and the rubber content in the composition was dissolved in the benzene. The slurry thus obtained was centrifugally separated into a solution portion and a precipitation portion the precipitation portion was repeatedly subjected to the above-mentioned procedure seven times. Thereafter, the final precipitation portion was dried to obtain nylon fiber. The nylon fiber thus obtained was dissolved in a mixed solvent of phenol and orthodichlorobenzene (a weight ratio of 1:3) and was analyzed according to a 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrum analysis by using as an internal standard tetramethylsilane. From the NMR chart, a mol ratio of 6-nylon and natural rubber was determined by a measurement of the area of the signals of the methyl and methylene groups derived from natural rubber, the methylene group adjacent to the CO group, the methylene group adjacent to the NH group and the other three methylene groups, derived from 6-nylon. Thus, the graft ratio was calculated. The shape of the nylon fiber was observed by using a scanning electron microscope (manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd.) at a magnification time of 10,000. The fiber was extremely fine fiber having a circular cross-section.
Evaluation test The fiber-reinforced rubber composition obtained above was vulcanized at a temperature of 150� C. for a period of 40 minutes according to the formulation as shown in Table 2 below. The results are also shown in Table 2.
EXAMPLE 2 Thirty five parts of the NR used in Example 1 was charged into a Brabender Plastograph and was masticated at a temperature of 245� C. at 50 rpm for 20 seconds. Then, 0.35 parts of N-(3-methacryloyloxy-2-hydroxypropyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (Nocrac G-1, Ouchi-Shinko Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) was charged and was mixed for a period of 4.5 minutes. Thereafter, 17.5 parts of the 6-nylon used in Example 1 was charged and was further mixed for 4 minutes. Finally, 0.788 parts of the same alkylphenol formaldehyde resin precondensate as used in Example 1 was charged and was mixed at a temperature of 245� C. at 100 rpm for 2 minutes. A fiber-reinforced rubber composition (sample 2) was prepared from the resultant mixture obtained above in the same manner as in Example 1.
COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1 Thirty five parts of the NR used in Example 1 was charged into a Brabender Plastograph and was masticated at a temperature of 245� C. at 50 rpm for 1 minute. Then, 10.5 parts of the 6-nylon used in Example 1 was charged and was further mixed for 4 minutes. A fiber-reinforced rubber composition (sample 3) was prepared from the resultant mixture obtained above in the same manner as in Example 1. The composition contained a large amount of the nylon in the form of film.
EXAMPLE 3 Forty parts of the 6-nylon used in Example 1 was charged into a Brabender Plastograph and was mixed at a temperature of 245� C. at 50 rpm for 9 minutes to completely melt the 6-nylon. Then, 15 parts of the NR used in Example 1 was charged and was further mixed for 1.5 minutes. Thereafter, 0.275 parts of the alkylphenol formaldehyde resin precondensate used in Example 1 was charged and was mixed for 3.5 minutes. The resultant mixture (i.e., first mixture) was taken out from the Brabender Plastograph and was granulated.
At the second step, 30.7 parts of the NR used above was charged into the Brabender Plastograph and masticated at a temperature of 245� C. at 50 rpm for 30 seconds. Then, 14.4 parts of the granulated mixture obtained above was charged and was further mixed for 4.5 minutes.
EXAMPLE 7 Forty parts of the 6-nylon used in Example 1 was charged into a Brabender Plastograph and was mixed at a temperature of 245� C. at 50 rpm for 9 minutes to completely melt the 6-nylon. Then, 15.975 parts of a mixture obtained by mixing 100 parts of NR used in Example 1, 5.5 parts of the alkylphenol formaldehyde resin precondensate and 1.0 part of N-(3-methacryloyloxy-2-hydroxypropyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine used in Example 2 at 60� C. on 3 inch rolls was charged into the Brabender Plastograph and was mixed for 3.5 minutes.
The resultant mixture (i.e., the first mixture) was taken out from the Brabender Plastograph and was granulated. Then, 30.721 parts of NR and 0.307 parts of N-(3-methacryloyloxy-2-hydroxypropyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine) were charged into the Brabender Plastograph and was masticated at a temperature of 245� C. and at 50 rpm for 1 minute. Thereafter, 14.533 parts of the granulated mixture was charged and was mixed for 4.5 minutes. A fiber-reinforced composition (sample 8) was prepared from the mixture obtained above (i.e., the second mixture) in the same manner as used in Example 1.
EXAMPLE 9 A fiber-reinforced rubber composition (sample 10) was prepared in the same manner as used in Example 7, except that the amount of the granulated mixture was changed from 14.533 parts to 20.991 parts, the amount of N-(3-methacryloyloxy-2-hydroxypropyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine was changed from 0.307 parts to 0.244 parts and the amount of NR was changed from 30.721 parts to 24.375 parts.
EXAMPLE 10 A fiber-reinforced rubber composition (sample 11) was prepared in the same manner as in Example 7, except that the amount of the granulated mixture was changed from 14.533 parts to 23.614 parts, the amount of NR was changed from 30.721 parts to 21.797 parts, and the amount of N-(3-methacryloyloxy-2-hydroxypropyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine was changed from 0.307 parts to 0.218 parts.
EXAMPLE 11 Forty parts of the 6-nylon used in Example 1 was charged into a Brabender Plastograph and was mixed at a temperature of 245� C. at 50 rpm for 9 minutes to completely melt the 6-nylon. Then, 100 parts of the NR used in Example 1, 1.0 part of N-(3-methacryloyloxy-2-hydroxylpropyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine used in Example 2, and 1.833 parts of the alkylphenol formaldehyde resin precondensate used in Example 1, were rolled at 60� C. on 3 inch rolls. 15.425 parts of the mixture thus obtained was charged, added to the molten nylon in the Brabender Plastograph and was further mixed for 3.5 minutes. The resultant mixture (i.e., first mixture) was taken out from the Brabender Plastograph and was granulated.
At the second step, 24.375 parts of the NR and 0.244 parts of N-(3-methacryloyloxy-2-hydroxypropyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine both used above were charged into the Brabender Plastograph and masticated at a temperature of 245� C. at 50 rpm for 30 seconds. Then, 20.784 parts of the granulated mixture obtained above was charged and was further mixed for 4.5 minutes.
EXAMPLES 12 and 13 Fiber-reinforced rubber compositions (samples 14 and 15) were prepared in the same manner as in Example 11, except that the amounts of the alkylphenol formaldehyde resin precondensate used in Example 1 were changed from 1.833 parts to 3.667 parts (sample 14) and 7.333 parts (sample 15), the amounts of the granulated mixture were changed from 20.784 parts to 20.888 parts (sample 14) and 21.094 parts (sample 15), and the mixing and extrusion temperatures were changed from 245� C. to 250� C. (only in sample 15).
TABLE 1__________________________________________________________________________      First mixture      Extrudate      Content of each component in                         Content of each      mixture (Wt. ratio)                         component in      Total of           extrudate  Winding  Sample      NR and 6-            Tamanol                 6-Nylon/NR �                         (Wt. ratio)                                    conditionExample No.  No. nylon 521  100     NR 6-Nylon                                 G-12)                                    of extrudate__________________________________________________________________________Example 1  1   100   0.3   20     100                            20   0  Fairly goodExample 2  2   100   1.5   50     100                            50   1.0                                    GoodComparative  3   100   0     30     100                            30   0  PoorExample 1                                Many breakingExample 3  4   100   0.5  267     100                            30   0  Fairly goodExample 4  5   100   1.5  267     100                            30   0  GoodExample 5  6   100   0.5  267     100                            50   0  "Example 6  7   100   0.5  267     100                            50   1.0                                    "Example 7  8   100   1.5  267     100                            30   1.0                                    Very goodExample 8  9   100   1.5  267     100                            40   1.0                                    "Example 9  10  100   1.5  267     100                            50   1.0                                    "Example 10  11  100   1.5  267     100                            60   1.0                                    "Comparative  12  100   1.5  267     100                            80   1.0                                    PoorExample 2                                Unstable extrusionExample 11  13  100   0.5  267     100                            50   1.0                                    Very goodExample 12  14  100   1.0  267     100                            50   1.0                                    "Example 13  15  100   2.0  267     100                            50   1.0                                    "Comparative  16  --    --   --      -- --   -- --Example 3__________________________________________________________________________            Fiber-reinforced rubber composition                                   Average                       Graft       diameter                                        Length of3)                   Sample                       ratio                           Shape of                                   of fiber                                        fiber            Example No.                   No. (wt %)                           nylon fiber                                   (&#956;m)                                        (&#956;m)__________________________________________________________________________            Example 1                   1    4  Fine fiber                                   0.5   &#8807;8            Example 2                   2   10  "       0.2  &#8807;15            Comparative                   3    0  Thick fiber                                   5    &gt;50            Example 1      Filmy product            Example 3                   4    8  Fine fiber                                   0.4  1� 104)            Example 4                   5   13  "       0.3  &#8807;10            Example 5                   6    7  "       0.5  &#8807;10            Example 6                   7   10  "       0.4  &#8807;10            Example 7                   8   13  "       0.2  &#8807;15            Example 8                   9   13  "       0.2  &#8807;15            Example 9                   10  13  "       0.2  &#8807;15            Example 10                   11  13  "       0.2  &#8807;15            Comparative                   12  13  Thick fiber                                   5    &gt;50            Example 2      Filmy product            Example 11                   13   7  Fine fiber                                   0.3  &#8807;15            Example 12                   14  10  "       0.2  &#8807;15            Example 13                   15  13  "       0.2  &#8807;15            Comparative                   16  --  --      --   --            Example 3__________________________________________________________________________ 1) Alkylphenol formaldehyde resin (manufactured by Arakawa Chemical Co., Ltd.) 2) N(3-methacryloyloxy-2-hydroxypropyl)-Nphenyl-p-phenylenediamine 3) "&#8807;8" means that the shortest fiber length is 8 &#956;m. The average fiber length could not be determined except for Example 3. 4) The average fiber length is 5 &#956;m.
TABLE 2__________________________________________________________________________                        Compara-            Example                   Example                        tive Ex-                              Example                                    Example                                          Example                                               Example                                                    ExampleExample No.      1      2    ple 1 3     4     5    6    7__________________________________________________________________________Amount of NR (part)            68.0   87.2 78.7  78.7  78.7  87.2 87.2 78.7Sample No.       1      2    3     4     5     6    7    8Amount (part)    38.4   19.6 27.7  27.7  27.7  19.3 19.3 28.1Carbon black1)       (part)            50Process Oil (")  5Zinc oxide  (")  5Stearic acid       (")  3810 NA2)    1.2    "    "     "     "     "    "    "#2243)      0.8DM4)        0.6M5)         0.2Sulfur           2.5Ratio of nylon fiber to            6.4    6.4  (6.4)7)                              6.4   6.4   6.4  6.4  6.4rubber content (PHR)50% modulus (kg/cm2)            48     63   80    40    52    57   64   54100% modulus       (")  74     88   91    65    78    79   85   82200% modulus       (")  132    140  124   131   136   129  140  138300% modulus       (")  199    205  182   187   207   198  211  204Tensile strength at break       (")  283    288  242   273   289   287  278  284Elongation  (%)  422    408  380   421   414   425  385  419Peeling strength6)       (kg) &gt;50    &gt;50  9     &gt;50   &gt;50   &gt;50  &gt;50  &gt;50Overall evaluation            Good   Good Poor  Good  Good  Good Good Good__________________________________________________________________________                              Compara-              Compara-            Example                   Example                        Example                              tive Ex-                                    Example                                          Example                                               Example                                                    tive Ex-Example No.      8      9    10    ample 2                                    11    12   13   ample__________________________________________________________________________                                                    3Amount of NR (part)            84.0   87.2 89.3  90.8  87.2  87.2 87.2 0Sample No.       9      10   11    12    13    14   15   16Amount (part)    22.7   19.5 17.3  15.7  19.4  19.4 19.7 100Carbon black1)       (part)            50Process oil (")  5Zinc oxide  (")  5Stearic acid       (")  3810 NA2)    1.2     "    "     "     "     "    "    "#2243)      0.8DM.sup. 4)       0.6M5)         0.2Sulfur           2.5Ratio of nylon fiber to            6.4    6.4  6.4   (6.4)7)                                    6.4   6.4  6.4  0rubber content (PHR)50% modulus (kg/cm2)            68     66   63    89    79    69   64   17100% modulus       (")  95     96   91    111   107   101  93   31200% modulus       (")  148    152  149   160   159   156  148  81300% modulus       (")  214    219  217   229   224   224  215  147Tensile strength at break       (")  279    286  289   245   278   291  260  283Elongation  (%)  398    400  403   314   380   381  390  479Peeling strength6)       (kg) &gt;50    &gt;50  &gt;50   10    &gt;50   &gt;50  &gt;50  &gt;50Overall evaluation            Good   Good Good  Good  Good  Good Good Fairly                                                    poor__________________________________________________________________________ 1) Diablack I manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Industries Ltd., 2) Nphenyl-Nisopropyl-p-phenylenediamine manufactured by OuchiShinko Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. 3) 2,2,4trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline (Nocrac 224 manufactured by OuchiShinko Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) 4) Dibenzothiazyl disulfide manufactured by OuchiShinko Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. 5) Melcaptobenzothiazole manufactured by OuchiShinko Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. 6) This strength exhibits adhesion properties to vulcanized natural rubber 7) Total amounts of nylon fiber and nylon in the form of film.
COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 4 One hundred parts by weight of NR used in Example 1 was charged into a Brabender Plastograph and was masticated at a temperature of 80� C. at 50 rpm for 30 seconds. Then, 5 parts of 6-nylon fiber having a length of 2 mm was charged thereto and was mixed for 30 seconds. According to a HRH system (A tricomponent system consisting of Hexamethylenetetramine, Resorcinol and fine particle Hydrated silica.: "reference" G. C. Derringer Rubber World 165 45 (1971)) formulation, 15 parts of silica, 3 parts of zinc oxide, 2.5 parts of resorcinol and 2 parts of stearic acid were charged into the Brabender Plastograph and were mixed together for 4 minutes.
The resultant mixture was charged onto 3 inch rolls and, then, 2 parts of sulfur, 1.6 parts of hexamethylene tetramine, and 1 part of dibenzothiazyl disulfide were added thereto and was mixed together at a temperature of 80� C. A compound (sample 17) was sheeted and, then, was fed to a mold, where vulcanization was carried out at a temperature of 150� C. for 40 minutes. The physical properties of the vulcanizate were determined.
COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 5 Comparative Example 4 was repeated, except that no nylon fiber was compounded in a mixture (sample 18).
TABLE 3______________________________________Comparative Example No.               4       5______________________________________Sample No.          17       18Amount of NR (part) 100     100Ratio of nylon fiber to               5        0rubber content (PHR)Silica (part)       15Zinc oxide          3Resorcinol          2.5Stearic acid        2       The same                       as leftSulfur              2Hexamethylenetetramine               1.6DM1)           1100% Modulus (kg/cm2)               32       9300% Modulus (kg/cm2)               48       26Tensile strength (kg/cm2)               51      175at breakElongation (%)      350     670______________________________________ 1) Dibenzothiazyl disulfide manufactured by OuchiShinko Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.
Vulcanizates were obtained from the fiber-reinforced rubber composition of Example 9 and NR of Comparative Example 3 at a temperature of 150� C. for priods listed in Table 4. The physical properties of the vulcanizates thus obtained were determined.
A fatigue test was carried out in air at a temperature of 100� C. by using a constant load tensile fatigue test machine (Model S6T manufactured by Toyo Seiki K.K.). A 50% modulus retention rate (%) and tensile break strength retention rate (%) [i.e., (values after fatigue test/values before fatigue test)�100] after the samples were subjected to 1�104 times tensile test under a load of 30 Kg/cm2 were determined. The times (i.e., fatigue life) by which the samples were broken by the repeated tension were determined under a constant load of 50 Kg/cm2.
TABLE 4______________________________________Sample No.           10       16______________________________________Hardness (degree)         71        63Tear strength (Kg/cm)a)                     100       91Flexing resistanceb)         (times)    45000    90000         (times)    13300    16600Impact resilience (%)      49       50PICO abrasionb)      145      12050% modulusretention rate (%)        100       0Fatigue testa)Tensile break strength     85       0retention rate (%)Fatigue life  (times)    6.1 � 103                             0.9 � 103______________________________________ a) Vulcanization time = 40 minutes b) Vulcanization time = 30 minutes
EXAMPLE 14 Forty parts of 6-nylon used in Example 1 was charged into a Brabender Plastograph and was mixed at a temperature of 245� C. and at 50 rpm for 9 minutes to completely melt the 6-nylon. One hundred parts of NR used in Example 1, 5.5 parts of the alkylphenol formaldehyde resin precondensate used in Example 1, and 1.0 part of N-(3-methacryloyloxy-2-hydroxypropyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine were mixed at a temperature of 60� C. by using 3 inch rolls. Then, 15.975 parts of the resultant mixture was charged into the 6-nylon in the Brabender Plastograph and the mixture further mixed for 3.5 minutes. The resultant mixture (i.e., the first mixture) in which 1.5 parts of the alkylphenol formaldehyde resin precondensate based on 100 parts of the total amount of the 6-nylon and NR was included was taken out from the Brabender Plastograph and was granulated. Thereafter, 30.721 parts of the NR used above and 0.307 parts of N-(3-methacryloyloxy-2-hydroxylpropyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine were charged into the Brabender Plastograph and were mixed at a temperature of 245� C. and at 50 rpm for 1 minute. Then, 14.533 parts of the granulated mixture obtained above was charged and the mixture was further mixed for 4.5 minutes.
The resultant mixture (i.e., the second mixture) was extruded at a die temperature of 245� C. into a strand having a diameter of 2 mm by using the extruder used in Example 1. The strand was wound on a bobbin through the funnel used in Example 1 at a draft ratio of 7. The wound strand was vacuum dried at a room temperature for one day to remove the attached water therefrom and, then, was rolled by using a pair of pressure rolls having a temperature of 60� C. and a roll nip of 0.1 mm. Thus, a fiber-reinforced rubber composition (sample 19) was obtained.
From this fiber-reinforced rubber composition, a compound to be vulcanized was prepared according to the formulation shown is table 6 below and the resultant composition was vulcanized at a temperature of 150� C. for 40 minutes to prepare a vulcanizate (i.e., a fiber-reinforced elastic product). The results are shown in Tables 6 and 8 below.
COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 6 Thirty five parts of NR used in Example 14 was charged into a Blabender Plastograph and was masticated at a temperature of 240� C. and at 50 rpm for 1 minute. Then, 10.5 parts of the 6-nylon used in Example 14 was charged and the mixture was further mixed for 4 minutes. The resultant first mixture containing no alkylphenol formaldehyde resin precondensate was extruded to prepare a fiber-reinforced rubber composition (sample 20) in the same manner as in Example 14. The resultant rubber composition contained a large amount of the nylon in the form of film.
From the resultant mixture, a composition to be vulcanized was prepared according to the formulation shown in Table 6 and was vulcanized at a temperature of 150� C. for 40 minutes to produce a fiber-reinforced elastic sheet having a thickness of 2 mm.
EXAMPLES 16 TO 20 AND COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 7 Compounds to be vulcanized were prepared in the same manner as in Example 15, except that the compounding ratios of the fiber-reinforced rubber composition (sample 21) and the additional vulcanizable rubber (i.e., NR) were changed as shown in Table 6. The resultant compounds were vulcanized at a temperature of 150� C. for 40 minutes to produce fiber-reinforced elastic products.
EXAMPLES 25 TO 30 AND COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 12 TO 17 Compounds to be vulcanized were prepared in the same manner as in Example 15 or Comparative Example 6, except that the kinds and the amounts of the compounding chemicals, compounding agents, and/or additional vulcanizable rubber were changed and were vulcanized at a temperature of 150� C. for 40 minutes (or at a temperature of 150� C. for 30 minutes in Example 27 and Comparative Example 14) to produce fiber-reinforced elastic products.
TABLE 5__________________________________________________________________________Fiber-reinforced rubber composition                Nylon component                        Shape of fiber    Weight ratio of            Graft       Average                              Fiber2)Sample    each component            ratio       diameter of                              lengthNo. NR  6-Nylon        G-11)            (wt %)                Shape   fiber (&#956;m)                              (&#956;m)__________________________________________________________________________19  100 30   1.0 13  Fine fiber                        0.2   &#8807;1520  100 30   0    0  Thicker fiber                        5     &gt;50                Filmy product21  100 50   1.0 13  Fine fiber                        0.2   &#8807;15__________________________________________________________________________ 1) N(3-methacryloyloxy-2-hydroxypropyl)-Nphenyl-p-phenylenediamine 2) For instance, &#8807;15 means that the shortest fiber length was 15 &#956;m.
TABLE 6__________________________________________________________________________Example (Ex.) and ComparativeExample (Com. Ex.) Nos.              Ex. 14                    Com. Ex. 6                          Ex. 15                              Ex. 16                                   Ex. 17                                       Ex. 18                                           Ex. 19                                                Ex.                                                    Com. Ex.__________________________________________________________________________                                                    7Sample No.         19    20    21  21   21  21  21   21Amount (part)      28.1  27.7  19.5                              6.0  12.2                                       24.3                                           30.4 45.6                                                    0NR (part)          78.7  78.7  87.2                              96.0 92.0                                       84.0                                           80.0 70.0                                                    100Compound to be vulcanizedCarbon black (ISAF)1)         (part)              50Process oil2)         (")  5Zinc oxide    (")  5Stearic acid  (")  3810 NA3) (")  1.2   "     "   "    "   "   "    "   "#2244)   (")  0.8DM5)     (")  0.6M6)      (")  0.2Sulfur        (")  2.5Ratio of nylon to         (PHR)              6.4   6.49)                          6.4 2.0  4.0 8.0 10.0 15.0                                                    0rubber contentReinforced elastic product  50% Modulus (kg/cm2)              55    80    67  33   49  80  87   106 19100% Modulus  (")  83    91    96  55   75  114 126  153 35200% Modulus  (")  138   123   152 114  135 175 189  218 92300% Modulus  (")  204   181   220 189  230 249 260  --  166Tensile break strength         (")  285   240   286 310  310 292 266  255 284Elongation    (%)  419   380   400 440  410 360 310  266 440Peeling strength7)         (kg) &gt;50   9     &gt;50 &gt;50  &gt;50 &gt;50 &gt;50  &gt;50 &gt;50__________________________________________________________________________
TABLE 7__________________________________________________________________________Example (Ex.) No. and ComparativeExample (Com. Ex.) No.                 Com. Ex. 8                       Ex. 21                           Com. Ex. 9                                 Ex. 22                                     Com. Ex. 10                                            Ex. 23                                                Com.                                                      Ex.__________________________________________________________________________                                                      24Reinforced rubber       Sample No.                 --    21  --    21  --     21  --    21composition Amount (part)                 0     19.7                           0     19.7                                     0      19.7                                                0     19.7NR (part)             100   87.2                           100   87.2       87.2      87.2Carbon black (ISAF)1)       (part)    30    30  40    40  60     60  70    70Process oil2)       (")       5Zinc oxid   (")       5Stearic acid       (")       3810 NA3)       (")       1.2   "   "     "   "      "   "     "#2244) (")       0.8DM5)   (")       0.6M6)    (")       0.2Sulfur      (")       2.5Ratio of nylon fiber to       (PHR)     0     6.4 0     6.4 0      6.4 0     6.4rubber content 50% Modulus       (kg/cm2)                 12    59  16    62  24     83  30    94100% Modulus       (")       21    85  27    91  43     118 55    129200% Modulus       (")       53    128 69    147 108    184 131   198300% Modulus       (")       104   191 132   220 184    256 213   322Tensile break strength       (")       277   280 291   285 299    312 297   280Elongation  (%)       510   410 480   370 430    380 410   320Peeling strength       (kg)      &gt;50   &gt;50 &gt;50   &gt;50 &gt;50    &gt;50 &gt;50   &gt;50__________________________________________________________________________ 1) Diablack I manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Industries Ltd. 2) Aromatic oil manufacture by Toa Nenryo Kogyo K.K. 3) Nphenyl-Nisopropyl-p-phenylenediamine 4) 2,2,4trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline polymer (Nocroc 224 manufactured by OuchiShinko Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) 5) Dibenzothiazyl disulfide (Nocceler DM, manufactured by OuchiShink Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) 6) Mercaptobenzothiazole 7) This strength exhibits adhesion properties to vulcanized natural rubber 8) Total amounts of nylon fiber and nylon in the form of film.
TABLE 8__________________________________________________________________________Example (Ex.) and              Com.                              Com.   Com.   Com.   Com.Comparative Exam-     Ex.        Ex.           Ex.              Ex.                 Ex.                    Ex.                       Ex.                          Ex. Ex. Ex.                                     Ex. Ex.                                            Ex. Ex.                                                   Ex. Ex.ple (Com. Ex.) Nos.     14 15 16 17 18 19 20 6   7   21 8   22 9   23 10  24__________________________________________________________________________Mooney viscosity of     83.2        83.0           83.5              82.5                 83.0                    84.5                       80.0                          81.0                              62.0                                  64.0                                     75.0                                         71.0                                            102 101                                                   125 127compound to bevulcanizedML1 + 4 (100� C.)__________________________________________________________________________
TABLE 9__________________________________________________________________________          Example (Ex.) No. and Comparative Example (Com. Ex.) No.          Com.    Com.    Com.    Com.    Com.    Com.          Ex. 11              Ex. 25                  Ex. 12                      Ex. 26                          Ex. 13                              Ex. 27                                  Ex. 14                                      Ex. 28                                          Ex. 15                                              Ex. 29                                                  Ex.                                                      Ex.__________________________________________________________________________                                                      30Reinforced rubber      (part)          --  19.7                  --  19.7                          --  19.7                                  --  19.7                                          --  19.7                                                  --  19.7composition(sample 21)NR         (part)          60  47.2                  100 87.2                          80  67.2                                  95  82.2                                          50  37.2                                                  70  57.2BR       1)      (part)          40  40  --  --  --  --  5   5   50  50  --  --SBR      2)      (part)          --  --  --  --  20  20  --  --  --  --  30  30Carbon black    10)      (part)          50  50  50  50  60  60  55  55  65  65  --  --(HAF)Silica   3)      (part)          --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  60  60Aromatic oil    4)      (part)          15  15  5   5   5   5   --  --  5   5   --  --Spindle oil    5)      (part)          --  --  --  --  --  --  10  10  --  --  10  10Stearic acid      (part)          2   2   2   2   2   2   2   2   2   2   2   2Zinc oxide (part)          3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 5   5   4   4   5   5   5   5810 NA     (part)          1.8 1.8 --  --  --  --  1 9)                                      1 9)                                          1   1   --  --CZ       6)      (part)          --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  0.8 0.8NObS     7)      (part)          0.7 0.7 0.5 0.5 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 --  --DM         (part)          0.3 0.3 --  --  0.3 0.3 --  --  0.4 0.4 --  --Sulfur     (part)          1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 5.5 5.5 2   2   2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5Tackifier    8)      (part)          --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  0.5 0.5 --  --Ratio of nylon 0   6.4 0   6.4 0   6.4 0   6.4 0   6.4 0   6.4fiber to rubbercontent (PHR)Intended       Side-              Side-                  Tread                      Tread                          Bead                              Bead                                  Tire                                      Tire        White                                                      Whiteapplication of wall              wall                  base                      base        cord                                      cord        com-                                                      com-compounded             rubber                      rubber      coating                                      coating     pound                                                      poundcomposition                            rubber                                      rubber__________________________________________________________________________
TABLE 10__________________________________________________________________________          Example (Ex.) No. and Comparative Example (Com. Ex.) No.          Com.    Com.    Com.    Com.    Com.    Com.          Ex. 11              Ex. 25                  Ex. 12                      Ex. 26                          Ex. 13                              Ex. 27                                  Ex. 14                                      Ex. 28                                          Ex. 15                                              Ex. 29                                                  Ex.                                                      Ex.__________________________________________________________________________                                                      30 50% Modulus    (kg/cm2)          12   44  16  65  51 120  21  64  31  84  9   55100% Modulus    (kg/cm2)          22   66  31  94  99 187  40  99  56 121  11  64200% Modulus    (kg/cm2)          54  108  85 159 --  --   99 168 135 194  15  88300% Modulus    (kg/cm2)          99  159 159 236 --  --  174 245 --  --   25 119Tensile break    (kg/cm2)          240 238 281 282 182 202 271 264 222 220 134 144strengthElongation    (%)   540 450 460 370 170 120 420 340 300 250 830 390Peeling strength    (kg)  &gt;50 &gt;50 --  &gt;50 --  &gt;50 --  &gt;50 --  &gt;50 --  &gt;50__________________________________________________________________________ 1): Polybutadiene (UBEPOLBR100, Ube Industries, Ltd.) 2): Styrenebutadiene copolymer rubber (SBR 1500 Japan Synthetic Rubber Co., Ltd.) 3): Silica (Nipsil VN3, Nippon Silica Co.) 4): Aromatic oil (H1, Toa Nenryo Kogyo K.K.) 5): Spindle oil (White, Maruzen Oil Co., Ltd.) 6): Cyclohexylbenzothiazyl-sulfeneamide (Nocceler CZ, OuchiShinko Chemica Industory Co., Ltd.) 7): Noxydiethylene-2-benzothiazole sulfeneamide (Soxinol NBS, Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.) 8): Alkylphenylformaldehyde resin (Tackirol 101, Sumitome Chemical Co., Ltd.) 9): 4,4thiobis (6tert-butyl-3-methylphenyl (Nocrac 300, OuchiShinko Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) 10): Carbon black (HAF) (Diablack H, Mitsubishi Chemical Co., Ltd.)
A. Novolak type phenol-formaldehyde resin precondensate (which is referred to as "novolak A") manufactured by Meiwa plastic Industries Ltd. (Trade name: 550PL) which was prepared by condensing phenol and paraformaldehyde in the presence of, as a catalyst, oxalic acid and which was in the form of a powder crystal having a softening point of 106� C., a water content of 0.12% and a free phenol content of 0.13%.
This precondensate was prepared as follows: One hundred and forty one parts of ε-caprolactam and 55.6 parts of paraformaldehyde having a purity of 81% were allowed to react at a temperature of 120� C. for 5 hours to obtain an addition reaction solution containing the addition reaction product of ε-caprolactum and formaldehyde. The total amount of the addition reaction solution was gradually and dropwise added to a mixture of 315 parts of bisphenol F, 32 parts of water, and 1.6 parts of 35% hydrochloric acid, and the addition product of ε-caprolactum and formaldehyde and bisphenol F was subjected to a condensation reaction. Then, the reaction mixture was distilled at a temperature of 180� C. under a reduced pressure (10 mmHg). Thus, 469 parts of the desired novolak type lactum-bisphenol F-formaldehyde precondensate was obtained.
One thousand and forty one parts of styrene was gradually and dropwise added to a mixture of 1412 parts of phenol and 40.3 parts of 35% hydrochloric acid and, then, the mixture was mixed at a temperature of 130� C. for 2 hours to obtain styrenated phenol. The styrenated phenol was recovered from the reaction mixture by a vacuum distillation under the conditions of 180� C. and 40 mmHg. To the total amount of the styrenated phenol thus obtained, 1426 parts of formalin and 87 parts of a 40% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution were added and the mixture was mixed at a temperature of 80� C. for 5 hours to effect addition of the formaldehyde to the styrenated phenol (i.e., the methylol styrenated phenol was formed). To the total amount of the addition product thus obtained, 1653 parts of phenol and 123 parts of oxalic acid were added. Thus, a condensation reaction of the methylol styrenated phenol and phenol was effected at a temperature of 100� C. for 2 hours. 2959 parts of the desired styrenated phenol-phenol-formaldehyde resin precondensate having a softening point (according to a ring and ball method) of 73� C. was recovered from the reaction mixture by a vacuum distillation method under the conditions of 100� C. to 180� C. and 40 mmHg.
EXAMPLE 31 One hundred parts of NR used in Example 1 and 1.0 part of N-(3-methacryloyloxy-2-hydroxypropyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylene diamine used in Example 3 were charged into a Brabender Plastograph (220� C., 50 rpm) and were masticated for 30 seconds. Then, 50 parts of 6-nylon used in Example 1 was charged into the Brabender Plastograph and the mixture was mixed for 4.5 minutes. Thereafter, 2.25 parts of novolak A was charged and the mixture was mixed for 3 minutes and 0.225 parts of hexamethylenetetramine was charged and the mixture was further mixed for 3.5 minutes during which the temperature of the content in the Brabender Plastograph was increased to 230� C. Thus, the mixture was obtained.
The resultant mixture was extruded at a die temperature of 235� C. into a strand having a diameter of about 2 mm by using the extruder used in Example 1. The strand was wound on a bobbin through the funnel used in Example 1 at a draft ratio of 9 and a winding rate of 35 m/min in the manner similar to that in Example 1. The wound strand was vacuum dried at a room temperature for one day to remove the attached water therefrom. About 500 of the wound strands were then bundled to a sheet having a thickness of about 2 mm and a width of about 150 mm. The sheet was rolled by using a pair of pressure rolls having a roll nip of 0.2 mm and a temperature of 60� C. Thus, the sheet was rolled by about ten times of the original length to obtain the desired fiber-reinforced rubber composition (i.e., masterbatch).
The fiber-reinforced rubber composition obtained above was vulcanized at a temperature of 150� C. for a period of 40 minutes according to the formulation as shown in Table 12 below. The results are shown in Table 12.
EXAMPLE 39 A fiber-reinforced rubber composition was prepared in the same manner as in Example 31, except that 0.255 parts of alpha-polyoxymethylene (n>100, manufactured by Katayama Chemical Industries Co.) was used in lieu of hexamethylene tetramine.
EXAMPLE 40 One hundred parts of NR used in Example 1 and 1 part of Nocrac G-1 were charged into a Brabender Plastograph (220� C., 50 rpm) and was masticated for 30 seconds. Then, 50 parts of 6-nylon used in Example 1 was charged and the mixture was mixed for 4 minutes. Thereafter, 0.75 parts of novolak A was charged, followed by mixing for 1 minute and, then, 0.075 parts of hexamethylene tetramine was charged, followed by mixing for 2 minutes (during the mixing, the temperature of the content in the Brabender Plastograph was increased to 230� C.).
Furthermore, 0.75 parts of novolak A was charged, followed by mixing for 1 minute and, then, 0.075 parts of hexamethylene tetramine was charged, followed by mixing for 2 minutes (during the mixing, the temperature of the content in the Brabender Plastograph was increased to 230� C.).
Thereafter, 0.75 parts of novolak A was again charged, followed by mixing for 1 minute and, then, 0.075 parts of hexamethylene tetramine was charged, followed by mixing for 2 minutes (during the mixing, the temperature of the content in the Brabender Plastograph was increased to 230� C.).
EXAMPLE 41 One hundred parts of NR used in Example 1 and 1 part of Nocrac G-1 were charged into a Bunbury mixer (manufactured by Minamisenju MFG Co., Ltd.) operated at 150� C. and 150 rpm and was masticated for 1 minute. Then, 50 parts of the 6-nylon used in Example 1 was charged, followed by mixing for 4 minutes. During this mixing, the temperature of the content in the mixer was increased to 230� C. and 6-nylon was melted. Thereafter, 2.25 parts of novolak A was charged, followed by mixing for 7 minutes and, then, 0.225 parts of hexamethylene tetramine was charged, followed by mixing for 2.5 minutes (during the mixing, the temperature of the content in the Banbury mixer was increased to 230� C.).
TABLE 11__________________________________________________________________________                                 Number of                                 break                                 during                                 30 min.                                       Fiber-reinforced rubber                                       composition   Ratio of each component in extrudate (wt. ratio)                                 continuous      Average   6-Nylon        Formaldehyde   winding of                                       Graft     fiber                                                      Fiber   (1030B)        Novolak   Producing compound                             Nocrac                                 extrudate                                       ratio                                           Shape of                                                 diameter                                                      length*NR      Amount        Kind Amount                  Kind  Amount                             G-1 (times)                                       (%) nylon (m)  (m)__________________________________________________________________________Example100   50   Novolak             2.25 Hexa- 0.225                             1.0 0     8   Fine short                                                 0.2  &#8807;1531           A         methylene                fiber                  tetramineExample100   30   Novolak             1.93 Hexa- 0.193                             1.0 0     7   Fine short                                                 0.2  &#8807;1532           A         methylene                fiber                  tetramineExample100   40   Novolak             2.10 Hexa- 0.21 1.0 0     7   Fine short                                                 0.2  &#8807;1533           A         methylene                fiber                  tetramineExample100   70   Novolak             2.55 Hexa- 0.255                             1.0 0     10  Fine short                                                 0.3  &#8807;2034           A         methylene                fiber                  tetramineExample100   50   Novolak             0.75 Hexa- 0.075                             1.0 0     8   Fine short                                                 0.3  &#8807;2035           A         methylene                fiber                  tetramineExample100   50   Novolak             1.88 Hexa- 0.188                             1.0 0     10  Fine short                                                 0.2  &#8807;1536           A         methylene                fiber                  tetramineCompar-100   50   --        --         1.0 18    0   Thick fiber                                                 5    --ative                                           &amp; largeExample                                         amount of17                                              filmExample100   50   Novolak             2.25 Hexa- 0.225                             1.0 0     8   Fine short                                                 0.2  &#8807;1537           B         methylene                fiber                  tetramineExample100   50   Novolak             2.25 Hexa- 0.225                             1.0 0     8   Fine short                                                 0.2  &#8807;1538           C         methylene                fiber                  tetramineExample100   50   Novolak             2.25Polyoxy-0.225   1.0  0    9    Fine short                        0.2  &#8807;1539           A         methylene                fiberExample100   50   Novolak              2.25*                  Hexa-  0.225*                             1.0 0     12  Fine short                                                 0.2  &#8807;1540           A         methylene                fiber                  tetramineExample100   50   Novolak             2.25 Hexa- 0.225                             1.0 (0)   15  Fine short                                                 0.1  &#8807;1041           A         methylene                fiber                  tetramine__________________________________________________________________________ *
TABLE 12__________________________________________________________________________Example No.     31    32  33  34  35  36  17*  37  38__________________________________________________________________________Amount of reinforced      (part)           19.6  28.4                     22.9                         15.9                             19.4                                 19.6                                     19.3 19.6                                              19.6rubber compositionAmount of NR      (")  87.2  78.7                     85.9                         90.9                             87.2                                 87.2                                     87.2 87.2                                              87.2Carbon black1)      (")  50                        50Process oil      (")  5                         5Zinc oxide (")  5                         5Stearic acid      (")  3                         3810 NA.2)      (")  1.2    "   "   "   "   "  1.2   "   "#2243)      (")  0.8                       0.8DM4)  (")  0.6                       0.6D5)   (")  0.2                       0.2Sulfur     (")  2.5                       2.5Ratio of nylon fiber      (PHR)           6.4   6.4 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.47)                                          6.4 6.4to total rubber50% modulus      (kg/cm2)           84    77  83  88  91  82  80   78  72100% modulus      (kg/cm2)           112   107 115 122 122 113 95   110 104200% modulus      (kg/cm2)           168   168 167 181 173 170 131  169 163300% modulus      (kg/cm2)           243   240 235 253 243 243 190  238 238Tensile break      (kg/cm2)           311   299 305 294 300 295 240  293 306strengthElongation (%)  398   381 390 363 382 375 380  379 392Peeling strength6)      (kg) &gt;50   &gt;50 &gt;50 &gt;50 &gt;50 &gt;50 10   &gt;50 &gt;50Overall evaluation           Good  Good                     Good                         Good                             Good                                 Good                                     Poor Good                                              Good__________________________________________________________________________                                            Reference                Example No.     39  40  41  Example__________________________________________________________________________                                            1*                Amount of reinforced                           (part)                                19.6                                    19.6                                        19.6                                            0                rubber composition                Amount of NR                           (")  87.2                                    87.2                                        87.2                                            100                Carbon black1)                           (")                Process oil                           (")                Zinc oxide (")                Stearic acid                           (")                810 NA.2)                           (")   "   "   "   "                #2243)                           (")                DM4)  (")                D5)   (")                Sulfur     (")                Ratio of nylon fiber                           (PHR)                                6.4 6.4 6.4 0                to total rubber                50% modulus                           (kg/cm2)                                93  76  77  17                100% modulus                           (kg/cm2)                                123 108 110 31                200% modulus                           (kg/cm2)                                179 169 172 81                300% modulus                           (kg/cm2)                                250 243 249 147                Tensile break                           (kg/cm2)                                314 295 298 283                strength                Elongation (%)  392 390 390 479                Peeling strength6)                           (kg) &gt;50 &gt;50 &gt;50 &gt;50                Overall evaluation                                Good                                    Good                                        Good                                            Fairly                                            good__________________________________________________________________________ *Comparative Example 1) Diablack I manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Industries Ltd. 2) Nphenyl-Nisopropyl-p-phenylenediamine manufactured by OuchiShinko Chemical Industory Co., Ltd. 3) 2,2,4trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline polymer (Nocrac 224 manufactured by Ouchishinko Chemical Industory Co., Ltd.) 4) Dibenzothiazyl disulfide manufactured by OuchiShinko Chemical Industory Co., Ltd. 5) N,Ndiphenylguanidine manufactured by OuchiShinko Chemical Industory Co., Ltd. 6) This strength exhibits adhesion properties to vulcanized natural rubber 7) Total amounts of nylon fiber and nylon in the form of film.
A fatigue test was carried out in air at a temperature of 100� C. by using a constant load tensile fatigue test machine (Model S6T manufactured by Toyo Seiki Seisakusho Ltd.,). A 50% modulus retention rate (%) and tensile break strength retention rate (%) [i.e., (values after fatigue test/values before fatigue test)�100] after the samples were subjected to 1�104 times tensile test under a load of 30 Kg/cm2 were determined. The times (i.e., fatigue life) by which the samples were broken by the repeated tension were determined under a constant load of 50 Kg/cm2.
TABLE 13__________________________________________________________________________                           Comparative           Example                Example                      Example                           ExampleExample No.     3    3     3    17__________________________________________________________________________Hardness   (degree)             76   76    75   75Tear strengtha)      (kg/cm)             98   96    91   48Flexing resistanceb)crack initiation      (times)            70000                72000 68000                           25000crack growth      (times)           123000                10000 11000                            7000Impact resilienceb)      (%)    47   46    46   48PICO abrasion indexb)             196                 190   188  10150% modulus      (%)    100                  96    91   90retention rateFatigue testa)Tensile break strength      (%)    90   97    88   84retention rateFatigue life      (times)            11000                10500  9400                            1300__________________________________________________________________________ a) Vulcanization period = 40 minutes b) Vulcanization period = 30 minutes
EXAMPLE 42 One hundred parts of NR used in Example 1 and 1.0 part of N-(3-methacryloyloxy-2-hydroxypropyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine used in Example 3 were charged into a Bunbury mixer (manufactured by Minamisenju MFG. Co., Ltd.) set at 150� C. and 150 rpm and was masticated for 1 minute. Then, 50 part of the 6-nylon used in Example 1 was charged into the Bunbury mixer, followed by mixing for 4 minutes. During this mixing, the temperature of the content in the mixer was increased to 230� C. and the 6-nylon was melted. Thereafter, 2.25 parts of novolak A was charged into the mixer, followed by mixing for 7 minutes and, then, 0.225 parts of hexamethylene tetramine was charged into the mixer, followed by mixing for 2.5 minutes (during this mixing, the temperature of the content in the mixer was increased to 230� C.) to effect the graft reaction. The content was then dumped from the Banbury mixer.
The mixture thus obtained was extruded into a strand in the same manner as in Example 31. The wound strand was vacuum dried and was bundled in the same manner as in Example 31 to form a sheet having a thickness of about 2 mm and a width of about 150 mm. The sheet was rooled in the same manner as in Example 31 to obtain a fiber-reinforced rubber composition (sample 22).
The graft ratio of the resultant fiber-reinforced rubber composition was determined in the same manner as used in Example 1. The result is shown in Table 14. Furthermore, the shape of the nylon fiber contained in the composition was observed by the scanning electron microscope in the same manner as in Example 1. The fiber was extremely fine fiber having a circular cross-section. The results are shown in Table 14.
The fiber-reinforced rubber composition obtained above was mixed with compounding agents listed in Table 15, except for sulfur and a vulcanization accelerator in a Brabender Plastograph set at 80� C. and 77 rpm. Then, the resultant mixture was mixed with sulfur and the vulcanization accelerator on 3 inch open rolls at a temperature of 80� C. and was sheeted from the rolls. The sheet thus obtained was placed and was vulcanized in a mold to obtain a vulcanizate. The vulcanization conditions were as follows:
1) 150� C.�40 min. for tensile test
2) 150� C.�30 min. for peeling test.
TABLE 14__________________________________________________________________________Fiber-reinforced rubber composition                          Nylon componentRatio of each component (wt ratio)    Average                                      Shortest            Hexa-     Graft      fiber                                      fiberSample           methylene                  Nocrac                      ratio      diameter                                      lengthNo. NR 6-Nylon       Novolak            tetramine                  G-1 (%) Shape  (&#956;m)                                      (&#956;m)__________________________________________________________________________22  100  50   2.251)            0.225 1.0 15  Fine short                                 0.1  &#8807;104)                          fiber having                          circular                          cross-section23  100  50   0    0     1.0  0  Thick fiber +                                 5    &gt;50.sup.                          large amount                          of film24  100  50   2.252)            0.225 1.0 13  Fine short                                 0.1  &#8807;104)                          fiber having                          circular                          cross-section25  100  50   2.253)            0.225 1.0 14  Fine short                                 0.1  &#8807;104)                          fiber having                          circular                          cross-section__________________________________________________________________________ 1) Novolak A, 2) Novolak B, 3) Novolak C 4) Fiber lengths of nylon buried in the composition were not more than about 200 &#956;m (from calculation).
TABLE 15__________________________________________________________________________                   Example No.                           Comparative        Reference                   Example 42                           Example 18                                  Example 43                                        Example 44                                              Example__________________________________________________________________________                                              1 Sample No.        22      23     24    25    -- Amount of sample              (part)                   19.6    19.6   19.6  19.6   0 Amount of NR (part)                   87.2    87.2   87.2  87.2  100Compound Carbon black (ISAF)            1)              (part)                   50to be Process oil            2)              (part)                   5vulcanized Zinc oxide   (part)                   5 Stearic acid (part)                   3 810 NA     3)              (part)                   1.2     "      "     "     " # 224      4)              (part)                   0.8 DM         5)              (part)                   0.6 D          6)              (part)                   0.2 Sulfur       (part)                   2.5 Ratio of nylon fiber              (PHR)                   6.4     6.4 8) 6.4   6.4    0 to rubber contentReinforced  50% Modulus (kg/cm2)                   77      80     74    69     17elastic 100% Modulus (kg/cm2)                   110     95     108   102    31product 200% Modulus (kg/cm2)                   172     131    169   163    81 300% Modulus (kg/cm2)                   249     190    245   239   147 Tensile break strength              (kg/cm2)                   298     240    296   299   283 Elongation   (%)  390     380    390   390   480 Peeling strength            7)              (kg) &gt;50     10     &gt;50   &gt;50   &gt;50__________________________________________________________________________ [Remarks 1) Diablack I, Mitsubishi Chemical Industries Ltd. 2) Aromatic oil, Toa Nenryo Kogyo K.K 3) Nphenyl-Nisopropyl-p-phenylenediamine 4) 2,2,4trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline polymer (Nocrac 224, OuchiShinko Chemical Industory Co., Ltd.) 5) Dibenzothiazyl sulfide (Noccelar DM, OuchiShinko Chemical Industory Co., Ltd.) 6) N,Ndiphenylguanidine 7) This strength exhibits adhesion properties to vulcanized natural rubber. 8) Total amounts of nylon fiber and nylon filmy product
EXAMPLES 45 TO 48 AND REFERENCE EXAMPLES 2 TO 5 Elastic products were prepared in the same manner as in Example 42 or Reference Example 1, except that the compounding amounts of carbon black were changed.
TABLE 16__________________________________________________________________________            Example                   Reference                         Example                              Reference                                    Example                                         Reference                                               Example                                                    Reference            45     Example 2                         46   Example 3                                    47   Example 4                                               48   Example__________________________________________________________________________                                                    5 Reinforced       (part)            19.6   0     19.6 0     19.6 0     19.6 0 rubber composition (Sample 22) NR    (part)            87.2   100   87.2 100   87.2 100   87.2 100Compound Carbon       (part)            30     30    40   40    60   60    70   70to be blackvulcanized (ISAF) Process oil       (part)            5 Zinc oxide       (part)            5 Stearic acid       (part)            3 810 NA       (part)            1.2 #224  (part)            0.8    "     "    "     "    "     "    " DM    (part)            0.6 D     (part)            0.2 Sulfur       (part)            2.5 Ratio of       (PHR)            6.4    0     6.4  0     6.4  0     6.4  0 nylon fiber to total rubberFiber- 50%   (kg/cm2)            54     12    59   16    79   24    86   30reinforced Moduluselastic 100%  (kg/cm.sup. 2)            79     21    87   27    114  43    124  55product Modulus 200%  (kg/cm2)            125    53    144  69    187  108   196  131 Modulus 300%  (kg/cm2)            189    104   217  132   261  184   --   213 Modulus Tensile       (kg/cm2)            263    277   299  291   285  299   280  297 break strength Elongation       (%)  400    510   410  480   340  430   300  410 Peeling       (kg) &gt;50    &gt;50   &gt;50  &gt;50   &gt;50  &gt;50   &gt;50  &gt;50 strength__________________________________________________________________________
EXAMPLES 49 TO 52 AND REFERENCE EXAMPLE 6 Elastic products were obtained from NR and sample 22 obtained above (Examples 49 to 52) and from NR (Reference Example 6). The compounding components, other than sulfur and the vulcanization accelerator, listed in Table 17 were charged into a Banbury mixer and were mixed at a temperature of 80� C. and at 77 rpm for 5 minutes. Then, the mixture was mixed with sulfur and the vulcanization accelerator at a temperature of 80� C. on 10 inch open rolls. The resultant compound was vulcanized in the same manner in Example 42.
TABLE 17__________________________________________________________________________                                            Reference                  Example 49                          Example 50                                Example 51                                      Example 52                                            Example__________________________________________________________________________                                            6  Reinforced rubber com-              (part)                  6.1     12.3  19.6  30.7  0  position (Sample 22)  NR          (part)                  96.0    92.0  87.2  80.0  100Formulation  Carbon black (ISAF)              (part)                  50  Process oil (part)                  5  Zinc oxide  (part)                  5  Stearic acid              (part)                  3  810 NA      (part)                  1.2     "     "     "     "  #224        (part)                  0.8  DM          (part)                  0.6  D           (part)                  0.2  Sulfur      (part)                  2.5Ratio of nylon fiber to total              (PHR)                  2       4     6.4   10    0rubber content__________________________________________________________________________
TABLE 18__________________________________________________________________________                                            Reference                    Example 49                          Example 50                                Example 51                                      Example 52                                            Example__________________________________________________________________________                                            6Physical  Mooney viscosity ML1+4               (100� C.)                    88    90    90    85    82properties  Tensile characteristics 1)of     50% Modulus  (kg/cm2)                    11.3  18.4  23.9  43.6  4.5Unvulcanized  100% Modulus (kg/cm2)                    16.1  27.2  35.3  60.8  4.6compound  300% Modulus (kg/cm2)                    31.2  53.0  65.8  --    7.7  Tensile break strength               (kg/cm2)                    50.8  81.5  83.4  92.1  36.7  Elongation   (%)  470   490   430   290   700  Mill shrinkage 2)               (%)  3     3     2     2     8  Extrusion characteristics               (D/D0)                    1.23  1.17  1.14  1.07  1.30  Swell ratio 3)__________________________________________________________________________ (Remarks) 1) A test piece was prepared by pressing a sample at 80� C. by using a mold having a thickness of 2 mm, followed by quenching with dry ice to solidify the rubber sheet and, then, was cut by a #3 dumbbell die. The determination was carried out at a room temperature and at a stress rate of 100 mm/min. 2) Determined according to an ASTMD-1917 method 3) Determined by using a Kokashiki flow tester having a nozzle of L/D = 2 and D = 1 mm under the conditions of an extrusion temperature of 100� C. and an extrusion pressure of 80 Kg/cm2.
TABLE 19__________________________________________________________________________                Vulcanization                      ReferencePhysical properties of elastic product                time (min)                       Example 49                              Example 50                                     Example 51                                            Example                                                   Example__________________________________________________________________________                                                   6Hardness (JISA)      40     70     72     75     77     6650% Modulus     (kg/cm2)                "      33     43     63     81     20100% Modulus    (kg/cm2)                "      57     75     101    126    36200% Modulus    (kg/cm2)                "      117    137    166    194    95300% Modulus    (kg/cm2)                "      186    198    227    248    164Tensile break strength           (kg/cm2)                "      306    302    298    280    317Elongation      (%)  "      500    490    441    380    550Tear strength   (kg/cm)                "      122    96     98     92     91Permanent elongation           (%)  "      12     13     13     15     11Repulsion       (%)  30     50     48     46     46     50PICO Abrasion Index  "      153    168    187    175    142Heat generation amount           (�C.)                "      21     21     22     25     20Strain by heat generation           (%)  "      5      5      6      7      5Flex resistance   Crack initiation           (times)                "      90000  85000  70000  56000  120000   Crack growth           (times)                "      12000  10000  7000   3700   14000Peeling strength           (kg) "      &gt;50    &gt;50    &gt;50    &gt;50    &gt;50Fatigue life 1) (times)                40     3010   4280   8730   14300  820__________________________________________________________________________ 1) Repeated extension under a constant load and under the conditions of 100� C. and 50 kg/cm2 EXAMPLES 53 TO 57 AND COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 19 TO 23 Elastic products were prepared in the same manner as in Example 42, except that the compounding formulations (practical formulations) were changed as shown in Table 20. The vulcanization temperature was 150� C. and the vulcanization period was 40 minutes (30 minutes in Example 53 and Comparative Example 19).
TABLE 20__________________________________________________________________________              Com-      Com-      Com-      Com-      Com-              par-      par-      par-      par-      par-              ative     ative     ative     ative     ativeExample (Ex.) and        Exam- Exam-                  Exam- Exam-                            Exam- Exam-                                      Exam- Exam-                                                Exam- Exam-Comparative Example        ple   ple ple   ple ple   ple ple   ple ple   ple(Com. Ex.) Nos.        53    19  54    20  55    21  56    22  57    23__________________________________________________________________________    Fiber-    (part)        19.6  --  19.6  --  19.6  --  19.6  --  19.6  --    rein-    forced    rubber    composi-    tion    NR   (part)        47.2  60  87.2  100 67.2  80  82.2  95  37.2  50    BR 1)    (part)        40    40  --    --  --    --  5     5   50    50    SBR 2)    (part)        --    --  --    --  20    20  --    --  --    --Com-    Carbon    (part)        50        50        60        55        65pound    blackto be    (HAF)vulcan-    3)ized    Proc-    (part)        15        5         5         --        5    ess    oil    Spindle    (part)        --    3   --        --        10        --    oil 4)    Stearic    (part)        2         2         2         2         2    acid    Zinc (part)        3.5       3.5       5         4         5    oxide          "         "         "         "         "    810  (part)        1.8       --        --        --        1    NA    Nocrac    (part)        --        --        --        1         --    300 5)    Tack-    (part)        --        --        --        --        0.5    irol    101 6)    Nobs (part)        0.7       0.5       0.8       0.8       0.8    7)    DM   (part)        0.3       --        0.3       --        0.4    Sulfur    (part)        1.5       1.5       5.5       2         2.5Rein-    50%  (kg/        44    12  58    15  97    47  61    18  83    31forced    Mod- cm2)elastic    ulusprod-    100% (kg/        66    22  87    28  155   92  95    35  123   56uct Mod- cm2 )    ulus    300% (kg/        155   99  215   143 --    --  231   156 --    209    Mod- cm2)    ulus    Tensile    (kg/        247   240 246   251 177   144 248   250 208   224    break    cm2)    strength    Elon-    (%) 480   540 350   460 130   150 330   440 220   330    gation__________________________________________________________________________
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS2683697 *Jan 27, 1951Jul 13, 1954United Aircraft CorpNylon-reinforced copolymer resinsUS4703086 *Oct 21, 1985Oct 27, 1987Ube Industries, Ltd.Fiber-reinforced rubber composition and production process thereof and fiber-reinforced elastic productUS5043388 *May 4, 1987Aug 27, 1991Ube Industries, Inc.Mixing vulcanizable rubber, fiber forming polyamide, and alkylphenol-formaldehyde resole; controlled temperature extrusion* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS5501880 *Oct 21, 1994Mar 26, 1996The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyReinforcementUS6447905Nov 4, 1999Sep 10, 2002Pirelli Tire LlcGreen tire bead and compositionUS7427645 *Nov 17, 2004Sep 23, 2008Covalence Specialty Adhesives, LlcAdhesive compositions and tapes comprising sameUS7533706May 21, 2002May 19, 2009Pirelli Tire LlcGreen tire beadUS7605210 *Dec 20, 2007Oct 20, 2009Exxonmobile Chemical Patents Inc.curing a ethylene-propylene rubber while the rubber is undergoing mixing with a thermoplastic resin; improve adhesion between the fiber and plastic matrix for automotive tubes and hoses* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification525/133, 264/210.1, 264/211.24, 525/935International ClassificationC08L21/00, C08G81/02Cooperative ClassificationY10S525/935, C08L7/00, C08G81/028, C08L21/00European ClassificationC08L21/00, C08L7/00, C08G81/02F8Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionMay 9, 2006FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 20020201Feb 1, 2002LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesAug 28, 2001REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedJul 21, 1997FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google