# US 2014/0155538 A1 · Heat resistant hydrocarbon elastomer compositions

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- Number: US 2014/0155538 A1
- Document ID: US20140155538A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/084,995
- Filed: 2013-11-20
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-12-04
- Assignees: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
- Applicants: E I Du Pont De Nemours and Company
- Inventors: Steven R. Oriani
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155538A1

## CPC

- C08L 23/16: Ethylene-propylene or ethylene-propylene-diene copolymers
- C08L 77/00: Compositions of polyamides obtained by reactions forming a carboxylic amide link in the main chain (of polyhydrazides C08L79/06; of polyamideimides or polyamide acids C08L79/08); Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
- C08L 77/02: Polyamides derived from omega-amino carboxylic acids or from lactams thereof (C08L77/10 takes precedence)
- C08L 77/06: Polyamides derived from polyamines and polycarboxylic acids (C08L77/10 takes precedence)
- C08L 23/0807: with unsaturated hydrocarbons only containing four or more carbon atoms
- C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06)

## Abstract

Disclosed herein is a polyamide-filled curable hydrocarbon elastomer compositions having enhanced heat aging performance where the presence of conventional filler, such as carbon black or silica, does not detract from desired heat stability properties. Also disclosed are polyamide-filled curable hydrocarbon elastomer compositions where the use of compatibilzer is optional, for polyamides having an inherent viscosity of greater than 0.88 dL/g.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A curable polyamide-reinforced ethylene elastomer compound consisting essentially of
(a) a polymer blend prepared from
(i) 40 wt. % to 95 wt. % of an ethylene copolymer elastomer gum; and one of
(iia) 5 wt. % to 60 wt. % of a polyamide having a melting peak temperature greater than 160° C. and an inherent viscosity greater than about 0.88 dL/g; or
(iib) 5 wt. % to 60 wt. % of a polyamide having a melting peak temperature greater than 160° C. and an effective amount of compatibilizer;
wherein the weight percentages of the ethylene copolymer elastomer gum and polyamide are based on the combined weight of ethylene copolymer elastomer gum and polyamide, and the blend exhibits a Mooney viscosity (ML1+4, 125° C.) less than 200; and
(b) a curative; and
(c) optionally, reinforcing filler, with the proviso that any reinforcing filler present contributes less than about 25 points Shore A hardness to the compound after press curing.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1 having a cure response MH-ML of at least 2.5 dN-m as determined according to ASTM D5289-07a, operating at 0.5° arc and test conditions of 180° C. for 10 minutes.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1 wherein reinforcing filler is present, and is selected from the group consisting of carbon black, hydrated alumina, calcium carbonate, barium sulfate, titanium dioxide, kaolin clay, silica, and silicate minerals.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The composition of claim 3 wherein said reinforcing filler contributes less than about 15 points Shore A hardness.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The composition of claim 3 wherein said inorganic reinforcing filler contributes less than about 10 points Shore A hardness.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1 comprising from about 10 wt % to about 50 wt % polyamide.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1 comprising from about 20 wt % to 40 wt % polyamide.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1 wherein the polyamide has an inherent viscosity greater than about 1.0 dL/g.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1 wherein the polyamide has an inherent viscosity greater than about 1.2 dL/g.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1 wherein the polyamide is nylon 6, or nylon 6/6.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1 wherein said curative is a peroxide curative.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A process for making the curable polyamide-reinforced ethylene elastomer compound of claim 1, said process comprising:
(i) dispersing said 5 wt. % to 60 wt. % polyamide in said ethylene copolymer elastomer by mixing at a temperature above the melting peak temperature of the polyamide to provide a blend;
(ii) and one of
(iia) wherein the inherent viscosity of the polyamide is greater than about 0.88 dL/g optionally, adding compatibilizer; or
(iib) wherein the inherent viscosity of the polyamide is 0.88 dL/g or less, adding at least an effective amount of compatibilizer; and
(iii) cooling said blend below crystallization peak temperature of said polyamide, such that the blend has a Mooney viscosity (ML 1+4, 125° C.) less than about 200;
(iv) optionally mixing the same or different ethylene copolymer elastomer into the blend from (iii) as needed to produce a blend comprising about 5% to 60 wt % polyamide; and
(v) adding a curative to the blend comprising about 5 wt % to 60 wt % polyamide at a temperature below the melting peak temperature of the polyamide; and
(vi) optionally adding reinforcing filler.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The process of claim 12, said process further comprising the step of mixing with said blend, at a temperature below the peak melting temperature of the polyamide, with additives, said additives selected from the group consisting of inorganic fillers, antioxidants, process aids, plasticizers, waxes, release aids, acid scavengers, colorants and property enhancers.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The process of claim 12 wherein said polyamide is nylon 6 or nylon 6/6.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The process of claim 12 wherein said curative is a peroxide curative.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The process of claim 12, said process further comprising forming said curable composition into a desired article and curing said composition.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The process of claim 16 wherein said formed article is selected from the group consisting of wire jacketing, cable jacketing, molded or extruded tubing or hose, or molded boots, belts, grommets, seals and gaskets.