Curative
AssigneeNatural Fiber Welding, Inc.
InventorsAaron Kenneth Amstutz, Luke Michael Haverhals, Albert C Pierz, Ian T Pierz
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Abstract
A curative for epoxidized plant-based oils and epoxidized natural rubber is created from the reaction between a naturally occurring polyfunctional acid and an epoxidized plant-based oil is disclosed. The curative may be used to produce porosity-free castable resins and vulcanize rubber formulations based on epoxidized natural rubber. Materials made from disclosed materials may be advantageously used as leather substitutes.
Claims22
A method of preparing a curative, said method comprising the steps of:
- a. dissolving a polyfunctional carboxylic acid in a hydroxyl-containing solvent to create a first mixture;
- b. adding an epoxidized triglyceride to said first mixture to create a second mixture;
- c. heating said second mixture to a temperature near a boiling point of said hydroxyl-containing solvent;
- d. allowing said polyfunctional carboxylic acid to react with said epoxidized triglyceride;
- e. allowing said hydroxyl-containing solvent to form an ester linkage between said hydroxyl-containing solvent and said naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid;
- f. removing an unreacted portion of said hydroxyl-containing solvent.
An epoxidized natural rubber-based material comprising a mixture of a curative and an epoxidized natural rubber, said curative comprising a reaction product among a naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid, a hydroxyl-containing solvent, and an epoxidized triglyceride, wherein said curative includes a formed ester linkage between said hydroxyl-containing solvent and said naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid.
An article generally configured as a sheet, said article comprising:
- a. a first layer of an epoxidized natural rubber-based material comprising a mixture of a curative and an epoxidized natural rubber, said curative comprising a reaction product among a naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid, a hydroxyl-containing solvent, and an epoxidized triglyceride, wherein said curative includes a formed ester linkage between said hydroxyl-containing solvent and said naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid;
- and,
- b. a backing material positioned adjacent said first layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.