Reticulated bacterial cellulose reinforcement for elastomers
AssigneeThe Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
InventorsWilliam C. Tung, Deborah A. Tung, Douglas D. Callander, Richard G. Bauer
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Abstract
Reinforced elastomeric articles, such as tires, wherein the reinforcement is reticulated bacterial cellulose are provided. Reticulated bacterial cellulose has an average diameter of about 0.1 micron and a substantially infinite aspect ratio. The reinforced article comprises about 2 phr to 10 phr of the cellulose reinforcement.
Claims5
A reinforced elastomeric article which has tensile properties and elongation properties substantially equivalent to the elastomer without fiber reinforcement, and a tensile modulos 25% to 400% greater than said elastomer wherein the elastomeric article comprises an elastomeric matrix having distributed therein a reinforcing amount of reticulated bacterial cellulose fiber wherein said fiber has an average diameter of about 0.1 micron.
A pneumatic tire containing a fiber reinforced elastomer component wherein said component comprises an elastomeric matrix having distributed therein a reinforcing amount of reticulated bacterial cellulose fiber wherein said fiber has an average diameter of about 0.1 micon.
A method of reinforcing an elastomeric article comprising the steps of:
- (a) preparing and mixing an elastomer to be used in a reinforced elastomeric article, and
- (b) adding 2 to 20 phr reticulated bacterial cellulose fiber having an average diameter of 0.1 micron to said elastomer during mixing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.