Method of, and elastomeric composition for, protecting a substrate
AssigneeRaychem Corporation
InventorRong J. Chang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cable splice is environmentally sealed by positioning around it a stretched sheet of a curable elastomeric composition, allowing the sheet to relax into engagement, and then curing the composition. The composition may comprise a polychloroprene elastomer and a polyepoxide and optionally a curing agent, the polyepoxide present in sufficient quantity that it can act as a plasticizer.
Claims32
An article for environmentally protecting a substrate, which comprises an elastomeric tubular article and a hold-out member by means of which said elastomeric article is maintained in a stretched configuration, said elastomeric article:
- (a) having when relaxed an elongation at break of at least 5%,
- (b) having a tear strength of at least 3 Kg per linear cm,
- (c) having a modulus of M.sub.100 of 1.4-17.6 Kg per sq. cm, and
- (d) comprising a curable elastomeric composition which has been partially cured and which comprises an elastomeric composition and a curable component dispersed therein,
- the article being capable of being positioned around the substrate while maintained in a stretched configuration, such that while maintained in a stretched configuration, such that when released from the hold-out member the elastomeric article engages the substrate, the elastomeric article after further curing of the composition:
- (a) having a tear strength of at least 5 Kg per linear cm, and
- (b) having a modulus, M.sub.100 of at least 3.5 Kg per sq. cm.
An article for environmentally protecting a substrate, which comprises a double-walled tube that can be revolved along the substrate by relative sliding motion between the two walls of the double wall, substantially without relative sliding motion between a wall adjacent the substrate and the substrate, at least part of the double-wall:
- (a) having when relaxed an elongation at break of at least 5%,
- (b) having a tear strength of at least 3 Kg per linear cm,
- (c) having a modulus of M.sub.100 of 1.4-17.6 Kg per sq. cm, and
- (d) comprising a curable elastomeric composition which has been at least partially cured and which comprises an elastomeric composition and a curable component dispersed therein,
- said at least part of said double wall, after further curing of the composition:
- (a) having a tear strength of at least 5 Kg per linear cm, and
- (b) having a modulus, M.sub.100 of at least 3.5 Kg per sq. cm.
A method of environmentally protecting a substrate, which comprises:
- (i) providing an article comprising a sheet, the sheet
- (a) having when relaxed an elongation at break of at least 5%,
- (b) having a tear strength of at least 3 Kg per linear cm, and
- (c) having a modulus of M.sub.100 of 1.4-17.6 Kg per sq. cm,
- (d) comprising a curable elastomeric composition which has been partially cured and which comprises an elastomeric component and a curable component dispersed therein;
- (ii) stretching the sheet by applying a force thereto;
- (iii) positioning the article such that is surrounds the substrate;
- (iv) removing the force applied to the sheet in step (ii), thereby causing or allowing the sheet to relax, and thus to engage the substrate;
- and
- (v) causing the composition to cure after step (iv), such that the sheet then has
- (a) a tear strength of at least 5 Kg per linear cm, and
- (b) a modulus M.sub.100 of at least 3.5 Kg per sq. cm.
A method of environmentally protecting a substrate, which comprises:
- (i) providing an article comprising an elastomeric tubular article and a hold-out member by means of which said elastomeric article is maintained in a stretched configuration, said elastomeric article:
- (a) having when relaxed an elongation at break of at least 5%,
- (b) having a tear strength of at least 3 Kg per linear cm, and
- (c) having a modulus of M.sub.100 of 1.4-17.6 Kg per sq. cm,
- (d) comprising a curable elastomeric composition which has been at least partially cured and which comprises an elastomeric component and a curable component dispersed therein;
- (ii) positioning said article around the substrate to be protected;
- (iii) releasing the elastomeric tubular article from said hold-out member thereby causing or allowing the elastomeric article to relax, and thus to engage the substrate;
- and
- (iv) causing the composition to cure after step (iii), such that the sheet then has
- (a) a tear strength of at least 5 Kg per linear cm, and
- (b) a modulus M.sub.100 of at least 3.5 Kg per sq. cm.
A method of environmentally protecting a substrate, which comprises:
- (i) providing an article comprising a double-wall tube that can be revolved along the substrate by relative sliding motion between the two walls of the double wall, substantially without relative sliding motion between a wall adjacent the substrate and the substrate, at least part of the double-wall:
- (a) having when relaxed an elongation at break of at least 5%,
- (b) having a tear strength of at least 3 Kg per linear cm,
- (c) having a modulus of M.sub.100 of 1.4-17.6 Kg per sq. cm,
- (d) comprising a curable elastomeric composition which has been at least partially cured and which comprises an elastomeric component and a curable component dispersed therein;
- (ii) applying the article over the substrate;
- (iii) revolving the article onto the substrate;
- (iv) allowing the article to relax;
- and
- (v) causing the composition to cure after step (iv), such that the said part of the double wall then has
- (a) a tear strength of at least 5 Kg per linear cm, and
- (b) a modulus M.sub.100 of at least 3.5 Kg per sq. cm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.