# US 10,479,869 B2 · Elastomer composites, blends and methods for preparing same

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- Number: US 10,479,869 B2
- Document ID: US10479869B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/108,039
- Filed: 2018-08-21
- Published: 2019-02-14
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2013-05-20
- Assignees: Cabot Corporation
- Applicants: Cabot Corporation
- Inventors: Gerald D. Adler; Anand Prakash; Ralph E. Dickinson; Vijay R. Tirumala
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479869B2

## CPC

- C08J 3/22: using masterbatch techniques
- C08J 3/226: {using a polymer as a carrier}
- C08K 3/04: Carbon
- C08K 3/06: Sulfur
- C08K 3/22: of metals
- C08K 5/09: Carboxylic acids; Metal salts thereof; Anhydrides thereof
- C08K 5/18: with aromatically bound amino groups
- C08K 5/47: Thiazoles
- C08L 7/00: Compositions of natural rubber
- C08L 9/00: Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of conjugated diene hydrocarbons
- C08J 2307/00: Characterised by the use of natural rubber
- C08J 2407/00: Characterised by the use of natural rubber
- C08J 2409/00: Characterised by the use of homopolymers or copolymers of conjugated diene hydrocarbons
- C08K 2003/2296: {of zinc}
- C08L 2205/025: containing two or more polymers of the same hierarchy C08L, and differing only in parameters such as density, comonomer content, molecular weight, structure
- C08L 2310/00: Masterbatches
- C08J: WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H (working, e.g. shaping, of plastics B29)
- C08K: Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients (paints, inks, varnishes, dyes, polishes, adhesives C09)
- C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06)

## Abstract

Blends of elastomer composites with unfilled or less highly filled elastomer reduces hysteresis without compromising reinforcement. Hysteresis may also be reduced by adjusting the compounding method.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for producing an elastomeric composition containing a filler, the process comprising:
preparing an elastomer composite comprising natural rubber and a first filler loading of carbonaceous aggregated filler having an STSA of at least 120 m2/g, the first filler loading being greater than 55 phr, by a wet masterbatch method; and
blending the elastomer composite with a second elastomer material comprising an elastomer and optional particulate filler to produce an elastomer composite blend having a second filler loading, the second filler loading being at least about 5 phr lower than the first filler loading, wherein M300/M100 of a vulcanizate of the elastomer composite blend is at least 0.5 higher than M300/M100 for a vulcanized elastomer composite of the same composition but prepared according to CTV Comparative Method 1.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the M300/M100 of the vulcanized elastomer composite blend is at least (0.017*COAN−0.7) higher than M300/M100 for a vulcanized elastomer composite of the same composition but prepared according to CTV Comparative Method 1.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the elastomer in the second elastomer material is natural rubber and the vulcanized elastomer composite blend satisfies tan delta 60≤0.04 (M300/M100)−0.106.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the elastomer in the second elastomer material is a synthetic rubber and the vulcanized elastomer composite blend exhibits M300/M100 of at least −0.0064*STSA+6.39.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, further comprising vulcanizing the elastomer composite blend.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the wet mixing method comprises:
i) combining a first fluid comprising elastomer latex with a second fluid comprising particulate filler;
ii) causing the elastomer latex to coagulate, thereby forming masterbatch crumb; and
iii) drying the masterbatch crumb.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, further comprising, before blending, masticating the elastomer composite for 30-60 seconds.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The process of claim 7, wherein masticating comprises mixing the elastomer composite in an internal mixer at a fill factor of 70-85% for 30 to about 60 seconds.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein blending further includes adding a cross-linking agent to the elastomer composite, wherein the cross-linking agent and the second elastomer material are mixed with the elastomer composite simultaneously.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the first filler loading is greater than 60 phr.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the second filler loading is at least about 10 phr lower than the first filer loading.

### Claim 12

A vulcanizate of an elastomer composite blend mixed with a curative package and exhibiting a ratio M300/M100 of α, the elastomer composite blend comprising a mixture of a wet mix elastomer composite and a second rubber comprising natural rubber, the wet mix elastomer composite comprising a carbonaceous aggregated particulate filler in an amount of X phr, X being at least 55, wherein
the vulcanizate has a filler loading of Y phr, Y being at least 5 phr less than X, and
the ratio M300/M100 of a vulcanized wet mix elastomer composite produced without the second rubber but having the same composition as the vulcanizate of the elastomer composite blend is less or equal to α.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The vulcanizate of an elastomer composite blend of claim 12, having a tan delta 60 less than or equal to the value of tan delta 60 for the vulcanized wet mix elastomer composite employing the curative package.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The vulcanizate of an elastomer composite blend of claim 12, wherein X is at least 60.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The vulcanizate of an elastomer composite blend of claim 12, wherein Y is at least 10 phr less than X.

### Claim 16

A vulcanizate of an elastomer composite blend mixed with a curative package and exhibiting tan delta 60 of Z, the elastomer composite blend comprising a mixture of a wet mix elastomer composite and a second rubber comprising natural rubber, the wet mix elastomer composite comprising a carbonaceous aggregated particulate filler in an amount of X phr, X being at least 55, wherein
the vulcanizate has a filler loading of Y phr, Y being at least 5 phr less than X, and
the value of tan delta 60 of a vulcanized wet mix elastomer composite produced without the second rubber but having the same composition as the vulcanizate of the elastomer composite blend is greater than or equal to Z.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The vulcanizate of an elastomer composite blend of claim 16, wherein X is at least 60.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The vulcanizate of an elastomer composite blend of claim 16, wherein Y is at least 10 phr less than X.

### Claim 19

A process for producing an elastomeric composition containing a filler, the process comprising:
preparing an elastomer composite comprising natural rubber and a first filler loading of carbonaceous aggregated filler, the first filler loading being greater than 55 phr, by a wet masterbatch method; and
blending the elastomer composite with a second elastomer material comprising natural rubber and optional particulate filler to produce an elastomer composite blend having a second filler loading, the second filler loading being at least about 5 phr lower than the first filler loading, wherein M300/M100 of a vulcanizate of the elastomer composite blend is at least 0.5 higher than M300/M100 for a vulcanized elastomer composite of the same composition but prepared according to CTV Comparative Method 1.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The process of claim 19, wherein the M300/M100 of the vulcanized elastomer composite blend is at least (0.017*COAN−0.7) higher than M300/M100 for a vulcanized elastomer composite of the same composition but prepared according to CTV Comparative Method 1.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The process of claim 19, wherein the elastomer in the second elastomer material is natural rubber and the vulcanized elastomer composite blend satisfies tan delta 60≤0.04 (M300/M100)−0.106.

### Claim 22 (depends on 19)

The process of claim 19, further comprising vulcanizing the elastomer composite blend.

### Claim 23 (depends on 19)

The process of claim 19, wherein the first filler loading is greater than 60 phr.

### Claim 24 (depends on 19)

The process of claim 19, wherein the second filler loading is at least about 10 phr lower than the first filler loading.