GB343922A - Improvements in or relating to the manufacture of goods of rubber or similar material - Google Patents

Abstract

Materials suitable for making e.g. golf ball shells &c., and having physical properties resembling guttapercha are prepared by mixing aqueous dispersions of rubber and the like with aqueous dispersions of albumens other than haemoglobin, in such proportions that the albumen content lies between 25 and 75 per cent of the dry rubber-albumen content. The most suitable albumen is commercial blood serum. The mixture is then converted into easily dried crumb-like masses by, for instance, the addition of coagulants, for example aluminium sulphate or other salts of multi-valent metals. After drying, and if necessary slight mechanical disintegration the crumb-like masses are consolidated by heat and pressure. The degree of toughness of the product may be varied by choice of the proportions of the main ingredients, and also by compounding and vulcanizing. Example.-30 parts by weight of latex containing 18 parts of rubber, and 0,2 parts of ammonia are mixed with 38 parts of a mucilage containing 16 parts by weight of commercial blood serum albumen, and 0,2 parts of ammonia. A 20 per cent solution of aluminium sulphate is stirred in till a crumb-like coagulum is obtained, which may be moulded at a pressure of 1000 lbs., at a temperature of 90-100 DEG C. for 15 minutes to form for example hemispherical shells adapted to surround a golf ball centre previously wound with rubber threads. The shells are welded together in engraved moulds. Specifications 219,635, 290,313, and 343,921, [all in Class 70, Indiarubber &c.], are referred to.