Buoyant silicone rubber compound
AssigneeSouth Valley Specialties
InventorsBrent Gines, Rique Ford
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A buoyant silicone rubber compound—and process for preparing same—is disclosed wherein hollow micro spheres are incorporated into the formulation in order to decrease the specific gravity of the compound to less than 1.0. The disclosed compound is prepared by admixing from about 85 to 99 weight percent polydimethyl siloxane with from about 1 to 15 weight percent hollow micro spheres. The micro spheres are selected to have a mean particle diameter of from about 10 to 500 microns. Aquatic gear comprised of the afore-mentioned buoyant silicone rubber exhibiting positive buoyancy/flotation such as ear plugs, swim goggles, dive masks, fins and sun glasses are also disclosed.
Claims32
A process for preparing a buoyant silicone rubber comprised of admixing from about 85 to about 99 weight percent polydimethyl siloxane and a selected weight percentage of hollow micro spheres at a rate selected so as to assure uniform mixture thereof;
- and
- curing said mixture by means of a catalyst so as to form a fully crosslinked silicone rubber composition demonstrating a specific gravity less than that of water.
A buoyant silicone rubber composition comprised of from about 85 to about 99 weight percent polydimethyl siloxane;
- from about 1 to about 15 weight percent hollow micro spheres;
- and from about 1 to about 5 weight percent plasticizing agent wherein said composition demonstrates a specific gravity less than that of water.
A buoyant article of aquatic gear comprised of from about 85 to about 99 weight percent polydimethyl siloxane;
- from about 1 to about 15 weight percent hollow microspheres;
- and from about 1 to about 5 weight percent plasticizing agent wherein said article of aquatic gear demonstrates a specific gravity less than that of water.
A process of preparing a buoyant silicone rubber composition comprised of admixing from about 85 to about 99 weight percent of polydimethyl siloxane;
- from about 1 to about 15 weight percent hollow micro spheres;
- and from about 1 to about 5 weight percent plasticizing agent at a rate selected so as to assure uniform mixture thereof wherein said composition demonstrates a specific gravity less than that of water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.