Thermoplastic Vulcanizate Compositions
AssigneeExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
InventorsOscar O. Chung, Eugene R. Uhl
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Abstract
In methods for forming thermoplastic vulcanizates, and thermoplastic vulcanizates formed by such methods, a masterbatch comprising one or more additives in a carrier resin comprising propylene- or ethylene-based copolymer is added to the thermoplastic vulcanizate formulation. The resulting thermoplastic vulcanizate may additionally be passed through a 200 mesh or finer screen and thereafter extruded. The thermoplastic vulcanizates may exhibit increased extrusion throughput rates and enhanced surface smoothness.
Claims25
A method comprising:
- introducing to a chamber each of a thermoplastic resin, an elastomer component, a curing agent, and a carbon black masterbatch;
- and
- dynamically vulcanizing at least a portion of the elastomer component so as to form a thermoplastic vulcanizate wherein the elastomer component is at least partially vulcanized and is dispersed in a continuous phase comprising the thermoplastic resin;
- wherein the carbon black masterbatch comprises carbon black particles dispersed in a carrier resin comprising a propylene- or ethylene-based copolymer having (i) a density between about 0.850 and about 0.920 g/cm3 and (ii) a melt index between about 0.05 and about 50 g/10 min as determined in accordance with ASTM D1238, at 190° C. and 2.16 kg weight.
A method for preparing a thermoplastic vulcanizate, the method comprising:
- dynamically vulcanizing at least a portion of an elastomer component in the presence of a thermoplastic resin and a curing agent so as to form a thermoplastic vulcanizate wherein the elastomer component is at least partially vulcanized and is dispersed in a continuous phase comprising the thermoplastic resin;
- and
- introducing a carbon black masterbatch into the thermoplastic vulcanizate, wherein the carbon black masterbatch comprises carbon black particulates dispersed in a carrier resin comprising a propylene-α-olefin copolymer, the propylene-α-olefin copolymer comprising about 50 wt % to about 99 wt % propylene-derived units and about 1 wt % to about 35 wt % comonomer units derived from one of ethylene and a C4-C10 alpha-olefin, and having a heat of fusion of about 75 J/g or less.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.