Curative
AssigneeNatural Fiber Welding, Inc.
InventorsAaron Kenneth Amstutz, Luke Michael Haverhals
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims17
A method of making an article configured as a sheet, said method comprising the steps of:
- a. selecting a backing material;
- b. applying an epoxidized natural rubber-based material to said backing material, said epoxidized natural rubber-based material comprising a mixture of a curative and an epoxidized natural rubber, wherein said curative includes a formed ester linkage between a hydroxyl-containing solvent and a naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid
- c. applying a mechanical pressure to said epoxidized natural rubber-based material and said backing material;
- and,
- d. allowing said epoxidized natural rubber-based material to cure.
An article comprising:
- a. a first layer of an epoxidized natural rubber-based material comprising a mixture of a curative and an epoxidized natural rubber, wherein said curative includes a formed ester linkage between a hydroxyl group and a naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid;
- and,
- b. a backing material positioned adjacent said first layer, wherein a portion of said first layer is adhered a portion of said backing material.
A method of affixing an epoxidized natural rubber-based material to a backing layer, said method comprising the steps of:
- a. selecting a material for said backing layer;
- b. applying said epoxidized natural rubber-based material to said backing layer, wherein said epoxidized natural rubber-based material comprises a mixture of a curative and an epoxidized natural rubber, wherein said curative includes a formed ester linkage between a hydroxyl-containing solvent and a naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid
- c. applying a mechanical pressure to said epoxidized natural rubber-based material and said backing layer;
- and,
- d. allowing said epoxidized natural rubber-based material to cure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.