Abstract:
Today, rubber reclaim material exhibits excellent processability but compromises compound properties, whereas alternative options of recycled material are either cost prohibitive, degrade compound performance, or lead to unacceptable processing behavior. The renewed rubber of this invention can be processed much more easily than conventional recycled rubber compositions. It also consistently exhibits an array of better overall cured rubber properties with only minimal variations in characteristics, by using feedstocks made by various grinding methods. In the chemical functionalization of the renewed rubber compositions of this invention, the sulfur-sulfur bonds in micronized rubber powder are broken to partially devulcanize the rubber, with only a minimal number of carbon-carbon double bonds in the backbone of the polymer being broken. This allows for the renewed rubber of this invention to be used in rubber formulations that are used in manufacturing a wide array of rubber products, including tires, power transmission belts, conveyor belts, hoses, and a wide array of other products. The present invention more specifically discloses a method for manufacturing an environmentally friendly, chemically functionalized, renewed rubber composition having a highly desirable combination of physical properties and which exhibits excellent processability comprising the steps of (1) blending a micronized rubber powder with a processing aid and a chemical functionalizing agent to produce a blended mixture; (2) processing the blended mixture under conditions of high shear and low temperature to produce a reacted mixture; (3) adding a stabilizer to the reacted mixture to produce the chemically functionalized renewed rubber composition.
Abstract:
A method of functionalizing reclaimed elastomer material is described. The method involves subjecting particles of the reclaimed elastomer material to shear at temperatures less than 100° C. such that inter-chain bonds of the reclaimed elastomer material are cleaved wherein the particles of the reclaimed elastomer material have a size of 60 mesh or smaller. The reclaimed elastomer material can be subjected to shear in the presence of a modifier which selectively promotes the cleavage of inter-chain bonds in the reclaimed elastomer material. A functionalized reclaimed elastomer material made by a method as described above and an elastomer compound which comprises the functionalized reclaimed elastomer material are also described.
Abstract:
A method of functionalizing reclaimed elastomer material is described. The method involves subjecting particles of the reclaimed elastomer material to shear at temperatures less than 100° C. such that inter-chain bonds of the reclaimed elastomer material are cleaved wherein the particles of the reclaimed elastomer material have a size of 60 mesh or smaller. The reclaimed elastomer material can be subjected to shear in the presence of a modifier which selectively promotes the cleavage of inter-chain bonds in the reclaimed elastomer material. A functionalized reclaimed elastomer material made by a method as described above and an elastomer compound which comprises the functionalized reclaimed elastomer material are also described.
Abstract:
An impact mill including a base portion on which is disposed a rotor rotatably mounted in a bearing housing, the rotor having an upwardly aligned cylindrical surface portion coaxial with the rotational axis. The impact mill is provided with a mill casing within which is located a conical track assembly which surrounds the rotor to form a conical grinding path. The mill casing is provided with a downwardly aligned cylindrical collar which may be axially adjusted to set a grinding gap between the rotor and the mill casing. The rotor is provided with a plurality of impact knives complementary with a plurality of impact knives disposed on the inside top surface of the mill casing. In addition, the impact mill can be formed of separated conical sections. Finally, power is transmitted to the rotor of the impact mill by a synchronous sprocketed belt, accommodated by a sprocket drive sheave, wherein the belt is in communication with a power source.
Abstract:
An impact mill (100) including a base portion on which is disposed a rotor (3) rotatably mounted in a bearing housing, the rotor having an upwardly aligned cylindrical surface portion coaxial with the rotational axis. The impact mill includes a mill casing within which is located a conical track assembly (5) surrounding the rotor to form a conical grinding path. The mill casing includes a downwardly aligned cylindrical collar (11) which may be axially adjusted to set a grinding gap (S) between the rotor and the mill casing. The rotor includes a plurality of impact knives complementary with a plurality of impact knives disposed on the inside top surface of the mill casing. The conical track assembly (5) can be a series of assembled conical sections or one unit with varied number of serrations in either a vertical or sloped configuration. This flexibility allows for greater compatibility with the feedstock being milled.
Abstract:
The methods for manufacturing micronized powder comprise pre-grinding processing, cryogenic freezing, and grinding of infeed material and warming, ferrous metal and fiber removal, accumulation, screening, and storage of micronized powder. Generally, the warming may involve recirculation of micronized powder through the warming apparatus. Further, the accumulation may permit the grinding and screening to occur at their respectively optimal rates, and the fiber removal, via use of a vibrating screener, may increase the purity of the micronized powder. In one embodiment, the micronized powder comprises micronized rubber powder ("MRP").
Abstract:
An impact mill including a base portion on which is disposed a rotor rotatably mounted in a bearing housing, the rotor having an upwardly aligned cylindrical surface portion coaxial with the rotational axis. The impact mill is provided with a mill casing within which is located a conical track assembly which surrounds the rotor to form a conical grinding path. The mill casing is provided with a downwardly aligned cylindrical collar which may be axially adjusted to set a grinding gap between the rotor and the mill casing. The rotor is provided with a plurality of impact knives complementary with a plurality of impact knives disposed on the inside top surface of the mill casing. In addition, the impact mill can be formed of separated conical sections. Finally, power is transmitted to the rotor of the impact mill by a synchronous sprocketed belt, accommodated by a sprocketed drive sheave, wherein the belt is in communication with a power source.