Method for cleaning elastomeric articles
AssigneeSchering Corporation
InventorsMichelle A. DeCrosta, Indradat Jagnandan
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Abstract
A method for cleaning elastomeric articles comprising contacting the elastomeric article with at least one supercritical fluid under conditions and for a time sufficient to remove the phtalates and/or polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contained therein. Elastomeric articles having a reduced phtalate and/or PAH content prepared by the above method are also claimed. Such elastomeric articles having reduced phtalate contents can be utilized as gaskets, valves, seats, flaps or plugs in metered dose delivery devices such as aerosols for demanding medicinal and pharmaceutical uses.
Claims22
A method for cleaning a vulcanized elastomeric article provided that the elastomeric article is not silicone rubber or polysiloxane wherein prior to cleaning, the vulcanized elastomeric article contained phthalate and/or PAH impurities integrated throughout its matrix, wherein the cleaned vulcanized elastomeric article has a lower phthalate and/or PAH impurity content than an equivalent vulcanized elastomeric article cleaned by refluxing in Freon P11 for 72 hours, comprising contacting the vulcanized elastomeric article with at least one supercritical fluid as an extracting mobile phase until the content of phthalate and/or polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) impurities contained therein is lower than that of the equivalent article cleaned by refluxing in Freon P11 for 72 hours.
A method for cleaning a vulcanized elastomeric article wherein the elastomer is selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene copolymer, polychloroprene, nitrile rubber, butyl rubber, polysulfide rubber, cis-1,4-polyisoprene, ethylene-propylene terpolymers, polyurethane rubber, polyisoprene and polybutadienes, wherein prior to cleaning, the vulcanized elastomeric article contained phthalate and/or PAH impurities integrated throughout its matrix, wherein the cleaned vulcanized elastomeric article has a lower phthalate and/or PAH impurity content than an equivalent vulcanized elastomeric article cleaned by refluxing in Freon P11 for 72 hours, comprising contacting the vulcanized elastomeric article with at least one supercritical fluid as an extracting mobile phase until the content of phthalate and/or polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) impurities contained therein is lower than that of the equivalent article cleaned by refluxing in Freon P11 for 72 hours.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.