# US 11,898,036 B2 · Elastomer composite including algae biomass filler

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- Number: US 11,898,036 B2
- Document ID: US11898036B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/396,370
- Filed: 2019-04-26
- Published: 2019-10-31
- Granted: 2024-02-13
- Earliest claimed: 2018-04-27
- Assignees: Algix, LLC
- Applicants: Algix, LLC
- Inventors: Mark Ashton Zeller
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11898036B2

## CPC

- A43B 1/0063: {made at least partially of material that can be recycled}
- C08L 9/06: Copolymers with styrene
- A43B 13/04: Plastics, rubber or vulcanised fibre
- A43B 13/12: Soles with several layers of different materials
- B29C 70/58: comprising fillers only {, e.g. particles, powder, beads, flakes, spheres (B29C70/025 takes precedence, agglomerating hollow spheres to produce synthetic foam B29C70/66; compounding ingredients per se C08K)}
- B29D 35/0054: {by compression moulding, vulcanising or the like; Apparatus therefor}
- B29D 35/065: {by compression moulding, vulcanising or the like}
- B29D 35/122: {Soles}
- C08K 11/00: Use of ingredients of unknown constitution, e.g. undefined reaction products
- C08L 7/00: Compositions of natural rubber
- C08L 9/02: Copolymers with acrylonitrile
- C08L 11/00: Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of chloroprene
- C08L 15/005: {Hydrogenated nitrile rubber}
- C08L 17/00: Compositions of reclaimed rubber
- C08L 19/00: Compositions of rubbers not provided for in groups C08L7/00 - C08L17/00
- C08L 23/16: Ethylene-propylene or ethylene-propylene-diene copolymers
- C08L 23/286: Chlorinated polyethylene
- C12N 1/12: Unicellular algae; Culture media therefor (as new plants A01H13/00)
- G06F 16/2379: {Updates performed during online database operations; commit processing}
- G06F 16/27: Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
- G06F 21/602: {Providing cryptographic facilities or services}
- H04L 9/3239: {involving non-keyed hash functions, e.g. modification detection codes [MDCs], MD5, SHA or RIPEMD}
- H04L 67/10: in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network (software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46)
- B29K 2009/06: SB polymers, i.e. butadiene-styrene polymers
- B29K 2011/00: Use of rubber derived from chloroprene as moulding material
- B29K 2019/00: Use of rubber not provided for in a single one of main groups {B29K2007/00 - B29K2011/00,} as moulding material
- C08K 5/0016: {Plasticisers}
- C08K 5/0025: {Crosslinking or vulcanising agents; including accelerators}
- C08K 5/07: Aldehydes; Ketones
- C08K 5/14: Peroxides
- C08K 5/29: Compounds containing {one or more} carbon-to-nitrogen double bonds
- H04L 9/50: {using hash chains, e.g. blockchains or hash trees}
- Y02P 70/62: related technologies for production or treatment of textile or flexible materials or products thereof, including footwear
- A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00)
- C08K: Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients (paints, inks, varnishes, dyes, polishes, adhesives C09)
- C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

An algae-elastomer composite including an elastomer matrix; algae; and a mixing additive sufficient to achieve a desired property. The algae can be present in a milled condition having a particle size value of between about 10 and 120 microns. The algae is mixed with the elastomer matrix in a dry condition having a moisture content of below about 10%. A method of preparing the algae-based elastomer composite is provided that includes the steps of: premixing an elastomer matrix; adding an algae filler; adding a mixing additive that includes a plasticizer; forming an elastomer-algae blend by blending the algae and elastomer to a temperature sufficient to be further mixed, wherein the temperature is about 10° C. higher than the temperature sufficient for the elastomer alone; adding and mixing a curing or vulcanizing agent for the elastomer dispersing the elastomer-algae blend; and heating and curing the elastomer-algae blend into a final form.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A algae-elastomer composite comprising:
(a) an elastomer matrix;
(b) a biomass reinforcement distributed through the elastomer matrix, wherein the biomass comprises algae and the algae biomass includes protein, ash, carbohydrate, and lipids when distributed into the elastomer matrix; and
(c) a mixing additive selected from the group consisting of a plasticizer, a compatibilizer, a vulcanizing agent, a curing agent, a crosslinker, a coupling agent, an elastomer compound having polar functionalization, a thermoplastic compound having polar functionalization, a performance enhancing additive, and combinations thereof, wherein the mixing additive is sufficient to achieve a desired property.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The composite of claim 1, wherein the algae is present in a milled condition having a mean particle size value of up to 120 microns.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The composite of claim 1, wherein the algae is mixed with the elastomer matrix in a dry condition having a moisture content of below about 20%.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The composite of claim 3, wherein the algae is mixed with the elastomer matrix in a dry condition having a moisture content of below about 3%.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The composite of claim 1, wherein the elastomer matrix is selected from the group consisting of natural rubber (NR), butadiene rubber (BR), acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), hydrogenated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR), ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM), chloroprene rubber (CR), chlorinated polyethylene rubber (CM), silicone rubber (Q), and combinations thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The composite of claim 1, wherein the algae is present in an amount between about 1% to 75% by weight of composite.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The composite of claim 1, wherein the algae is selected from the group of algae species consisting of Haptophyta, Cyanophyta, Chlorophyta, Ochrophyta, Rhodophyta, Phaeophyta and combinations thereof.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The composite of claim 1, wherein the protein, ash, carbohydrate, and lipids in the algae biomass are present by weight at a composition of protein from about 1% to 60%, ash from about 1% to 90%, carbohydrate from about 1% to 50%, and lipid from about 1% to 30%.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The composite of claim 1, wherein the elastomer is present in a premixed condition resulting in a plasticized state.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The composite of claim 1, wherein the mixing additive is either the elastomer compound having polar functionalization or the thermoplastic compound having polar functionalization and comprises a functionalizing agent selected from the group consisting of a carboxylate, styrene, methyl methacrylate, acrylonitrile, glycidyl methacrylate, maleic anhydride, epoxide, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The composite of claim 1, wherein the mixing additive is a coupling agent or a compatibilizer having at least one member selected from the group consisting of isocyanate, peroxide, glyoxal coupling agents, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The composite of claim 1, wherein the additive is present in a premixed condition with the elastomer matrix.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The composite of claim 1, wherein the algae is present in a milled condition having a mean particle size value of between 15 and 100 microns.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The composite of claim 1, wherein the algae is present in a milled condition having a mean particle size value of between 20 and 80 microns.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The composite of claim 1, wherein the mixing additive is an elastomer compound having polar functionalization comprising carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (XNBR).

### Claim 16

A shoe component comprising:
an algae elastomer composite including (i) an elastomer matrix, (ii) a biomass reinforcement distributed through the elastomer matrix, wherein the biomass comprises algae and the algae biomass includes protein, ash, carbohydrate, and lipids when distributed into the elastomer matrix; and (iii) a mixing additive selected from the group consisting of a plasticizer, a compatibilizer, a vulcanizing agent, a curing agent, a crosslinker, a coupling agent, an elastomer compound having polar functionalization, a thermoplastic compound having polar functionalization, a performance enhancing additive, and combinations thereof, wherein the mixing additive is sufficient to achieve a desired property;
wherein the shoe component is selected from the group consisting of an outsole, midsole, insole and combinations thereof.