Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
  • C08L9/00—Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of conjugated diene hydrocarbons
  • C08L9/06—Copolymers with styrene
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B25/00—Layered products comprising a layer of natural or synthetic rubber
  • B32B25/04—Layered products comprising a layer of natural or synthetic rubber comprising rubber as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material
  • B32B25/042—Layered products comprising a layer of natural or synthetic rubber comprising rubber as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material of natural rubber or synthetic rubber
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B5/00—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts
  • B32B5/16—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts characterised by features of a layer formed of particles, e.g. chips, powder or granules
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08J—WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H
  • C08J3/00—Processes of treating or compounding macromolecular substances
  • C08J3/12—Powdering or granulating
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08K—Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
  • C08K3/00—Use of inorganic substances as compounding ingredients
  • C08K3/01—Use of inorganic substances as compounding ingredients characterized by their specific function
  • C08K3/013—Fillers, pigments or reinforcing additives
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
  • C08L17/00—Compositions of reclaimed rubber
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
  • C08L19/00—Compositions of rubbers not provided for in groups C08L7/00 - C08L17/00
  • C08L19/003—Precrosslinked rubber; Scrap rubber; Used vulcanised rubber
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
  • C08L21/00—Compositions of unspecified rubbers
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
  • C08L7/00—Compositions of natural rubber
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
  • C08L9/00—Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of conjugated diene hydrocarbons
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
  • C08L9/00—Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of conjugated diene hydrocarbons
  • C08L9/02—Copolymers with acrylonitrile
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29B—PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS
  • B29B17/00—Recovery of plastics or other constituents of waste material containing plastics
  • B29B17/04—Disintegrating plastics, e.g. by milling
  • B29B17/0404—Disintegrating plastics, e.g. by milling to powder
  • B29B17/0408—Disintegrating plastics, e.g. by milling to powder using cryogenic systems
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
  • B29K2021/00—Use of unspecified rubbers as moulding material
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B2605/00—Vehicles
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08J—WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H
  • C08J2321/00—Characterised by the use of unspecified rubbers
  • C08J2321/02—Latex
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02W—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
  • Y02W30/00—Technologies for solid waste management
  • Y02W30/50—Reuse, recycling or recovery technologies
  • Y02W30/62—Plastics recycling; Rubber recycling
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
  • Y10T428/29—Coated or structually defined flake, particle, cell, strand, strand portion, rod, filament, macroscopic fiber or mass thereof
  • Y10T428/2982—Particulate matter [e.g., sphere, flake, etc.]

Definitions

• compositions Including Micronized Rubber Powder Having Broad Particle Size
• the present disclosure relates generally to elastomer compositions comprising reclaimed elastomer particles, and more particularly, to elastomeric compositions comprising reclaimed elastomer materials (micronized rubber powders or cured rubber particles) with vulcanized and devulcanized (or otherwise chemically modified) elastomer particles, wherein the elastomer particles have a broad and/or varying size distribution.
• Reclaimed elastomer materials or "micronized rubber powders" (“MRP"), which include reclaimed vulcanized elastomer particles, are used in a variety of applications, including elastomeric compositions (e.g., tire tread compounds for vehicle tires), plastics compositions (e.g., as fillers for polyolefins), asphalt fillers, and others.
• MRP micronized rubber powders
• the reclaimed elastomer particles are used as "filler” in place of a portion of the virgin polymer material.
• One of the primary reasons for the use of vulcanized elastomer particles is cost.
• the vulcanized elastomer particles typically are significantly less expensive than virgin (i.e., non-reclaimed) rubber or plastic, and can be used as a "filler" in elastomer or plastic compositions to reduce the overall manufacturing cost of the composition.
• virgin (i.e., non-reclaimed) rubber or plastic can be used as a "filler" in elastomer or plastic compositions to reduce the overall manufacturing cost of the composition.
• vulcanized elastomer particles are typically made from recycled or reclaimed material (e.g., vulcanized scrap from manufacturing processes and used tires or other elastomeric products)
• reincorporating vulcanized elastomer particles into elastomer and plastic compositions reduces landfill waste and results in a more environmentally-friendly product.
• the vulcanized elastomer particles or MRP used in such reclaimed elastomer materials are small in size (e.g., 2 mm or less in diameter) and are produced in a variety of ways, including by cryogenic grinding, chemical processes, and other methods.
• the reclaimed elastomer material used to manufacture the particles is typically obtained from previously-manufactured products (e.g., unused or used vehicle tires) or from vulcanized scrap generated during a manufacturing process (e.g., vulcanized scrap generated from the tire manufacturing process).
• compositions of these reclaimed elastomer materials conform to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards (and, specifically, to ASTM D-5603-01 for rubber compounding materials), which classifies materials according to the maximum size of the particles comprising the composition.
• particle sizes are classified according to U.S. Standard Mesh sizes (or simply, "mesh"). For example, an 80 mesh particle comprises a diameter of approximately 177 ⁇ , a 140 mesh particle comprises a diameter of approximately 105 ⁇ , a 325 mesh particle comprises a diameter of approximately 44 ⁇ , and so on.
• U.S. Standard Mesh sizes are readily available from many public sources and are known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
• reclaimed elastomer material i.e., micronized rubber powder
• the particle size distribution was relatively uniform.
• reclaimed elastomer material compositions having a wide range of particle sizes would exhibit poor performance characteristics and would, therefore, be relatively undesirable for many applications.
• producing reclaimed elastomer material compositions with uniform particle size distributions via certain milling processes, such as cryogenic turbo mill processes can be costly as careful screening, sorting, and distribution of the vulcanized particles is typically necessary.
• reclaimed vulcanized elastomer particles are relatively inert and therefore non-reactive with virgin elastomer matrix materials. Therefore, reclaimed elastomer material compositions comprising reclaimed vulcanized elastomer particles are of limited use as filler in rubber or plastic compositions as high levels of the reclaimed vulcanized elastomer particles generally lower the overall physical properties of rubber and plastic compositions. This limitation can be eased by the use of devulcanized elastomer particles, i.e., particles that have undergone a devulcanization treatment or other treatment method (e.g., thermal, mechanical, or chemical) that results in a chemical modification to the surface of the cured elastomer particles.
• devulcanized elastomer particles i.e., particles that have undergone a devulcanization treatment or other treatment method (e.g., thermal, mechanical, or chemical) that results in a chemical modification to the surface of the cured elastomer particles.
• aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to elastomeric compositions comprising reclaimed vulcanized elastomer materials (micronized rubber powders), wherein the elastomer particles have a broad and/or varying size distribution.
• elastomeric compositions described herein may comprise reclaimed vulcanized elastomer materials (micronized rubber powders) comprising particles larger than 50 mesh and also smaller than 140 mesh within the same composition.
• these reclaimed vulcanized elastomer materials are used within standard rubber compounds (such as those used for vehicle tires) as replacements for conventional reclaimed vulcanized elastomer materials with relatively uniform particle size distributions that conform to ASTM standards.
• elastomeric compositions e.g., tread rubber compounds
• reclaimed vulcanized elastomer materials with broad particle size distributions perform similarly to those comprising traditional reclaimed vulcanized elastomer materials with narrow particle size distributions, but can be produced less expensively.
• aspects of the present disclosure also relate to elastomeric compositions comprising both vulcanized and devulcanized (or otherwise chemically treated) reclaimed elastomer materials (micronized rubber powders).
• elastomeric compositions described herein may comprise 10% of reclaimed vulcanized elastomer material wherein half of the reclaimed elastomer material is vulcanized and half is devulcanized.
• Table 1 displays sample particle size distributions for reclaimed elastomer material compositions (i.e., micronized rubber powders) PD80 and PD84.
• Table 2 displays exemplary elastomer composition formulations.
• the control sample, CTRL l contains no reclaimed elastomer material, while both PD80 3% and PD84 3% contain reclaimed elastomer material.
• Table 3 displays exemplary elastomer composition formulations.
• the control sample, CTRL 2 contains no reclaimed elastomer material, while each of the remaining samples contains either vulcanized or devulcanized reclaimed elastomer material, or a combination of both.
• Table 4 displays exemplary elastomer composition formulations.
• the control sample, CTRL 3 contains no reclaimed elastomer material, while each of the remaining samples contains either vulcanized or devulcanized reclaimed elastomer material, or a combination of both.
• Table 5 displays per-pound cost estimates for virgin elastomer material as well as various vulcanized and devulcanized reclaimed elastomer materials.
• Table 6 displays tensile testing data relating to the exemplary elastomer compositions detailed in Table 2.
• Table 7 displays tensile testing data relating to the exemplary elastomer compositions detailed in Table 3.
• Table 8 displays tensile testing data relating to the exemplary elastomer compositions detailed in Table 4.
• Exhibit A displays detailed tensile testing data relating to the elastomer compositions detailed in Table 3, which expound on the test results provided in Table 7.
• Exhibit B displays detailed tensile testing data relating to the elastomer compositions detailed in Table 4, which expound on the test results provided in Table 8.
• Exhibits A and B which present more comprehensive tensile testing data measured by testing samples of the cured elastomer compositions comprising exemplary elastomer formulations, are attached to this disclosure and incorporated herein.
• aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to elastomeric compositions comprising reclaimed vulcanized elastomer materials (micronized rubber powders), wherein the elastomer particles have a broad and/or varying size distribution.
• elastomeric compositions described herein may comprise reclaimed vulcanized elastomer materials (micronized rubber powders) comprising particles larger than 50 mesh and also smaller than 140 mesh within the same composition.
• these reclaimed vulcanized elastomer materials are used within standard rubber compounds (such as those used for vehicle tires) as replacements for conventional reclaimed vulcanized elastomer materials with relatively uniform particle size distributions that conform to ASTM standards.
• elastomeric compositions e.g., tread rubber compounds
• reclaimed vulcanized elastomer materials with broad particle size distributions perform similarly to those comprising traditional reclaimed vulcanized elastomer materials with narrow particle size distributions, but can be produced less expensively.
• aspects of the present disclosure relate to elastomeric compositions comprising both vulcanized and devulcanized (or otherwise chemically treated) reclaimed elastomer materials (micronized rubber powders).
• elastomeric compositions described herein may comprise 10% of reclaimed vulcanized elastomer material wherein half of the reclaimed elastomer material is vulcanized and half is devulcanized.
• vulcanized elastomer particles includes vulcanized, cured, or otherwise cross-linked elastomeric materials in particulate form. These vulcanized elastomer particles are generally produced via cryogenic grinding processes by grinding reclaimed vulcanized or cross-linked elastomer material (e.g., vehicle tires and scrap from tire manufacturing) into particles, but may be produced in other ways as will occur to one of ordinary skill in the art.
• Vulcanized elastomer particles are generally not initially chemically modified.
• chemically modified vulcanized elastomer particles or
• device particles or “functionalized elastomer particles” include vulcanized, cured, or otherwise cross-linked elastomeric materials in particulate form that have been subjected to a treatment which results in a chemical modification of the surface of the particle.
• vulcanized elastomer particles can be subjected to a chemical or thermal treatment to modify the chemistry of the particle surface. Such chemical treatment typically aids in the subsequent cross-linking of the devulcanized elastomer particles to native elastomer and other materials.
• the term "PolyDyne” or "PD” refers to a brand name of vulcanized elastomer particles (e.g., cured rubber particles, recycled rubber particles, or micronized rubber powder) produced by Lehigh Technologies, Inc. of Tucker, GA.
• the particles described herein are produced via a cryogenic grinding system described by U.S. Patent No. 7,445,170, entitled Process and Apparatus for Manufacturing Crumb and Powder Rubber, and an impact mill as described by U.S. Patent No. 7,861,958, entitled Conical- Shaped Impact Mill.
• these micronized rubber powders are not subjected to subsequent screening or sorting operations to group the particles into narrowly-distributed ranges based on particle size, thus resulting in particle groupings of broad size.
• PD80 generally refers to a reclaimed elastomer material composition (i.e., micronized rubber powder) conforming to conventional 80 mesh standards.
• PD84 generally refers to a reclaimed elastomer material composition (as described herein) having a broad distribution of particle sizes (and not conforming to any specific ASTM standards).
• PD80 and PD84 are proprietary brand names used to describe specific reclaimed elastomer material compositions (micronized rubber powders) produced by Lehigh Technologies, Inc., which have predetermined particle size distributions. As will be described in more detail herein, PD84 corresponds to a proprietary composition of particles having a broad particle size distribution. As will be understood and appreciated, the specific formulations and particle size distributions associated with PD80 and PD84 as described in the attached exhibits are presented purely for illustrative purposes, and elastomeric compositions, reclaimed elastomer material compositions, or other elastomer formulations contemplated by the present disclosure are not limited to the specific characteristics or features recited herein.
• PD84 comprises a broader distribution of particle sizes as compared to PD80.
• the exemplary PD84 includes a trace amount of 40 mesh particles, approximately 9% by weight 60 mesh particles, approximately 21% by weight 80 mesh particles, approximately 38% by weight 120 mesh particles,
• the exemplary PD80 composition comprises no 40 mesh particles, only trace amounts of 60 mesh particles, approximately 3%> by weight 80 mesh particles, approximately 52% by weight 120 mesh particles, approximately 18% by weight 140 mesh particles, and approximately 27 % by weight particles that are smaller than 140 mesh.
• the particle sizes in the exemplary PD84 composition are distributed more evenly over a wider range of particle sizes, whereas in the PD80 composition, particles are primarily grouped around a central particle size (i.e., greater than 50% by weight are approximately 120 mesh particles).
• sample elastomer formulations comprising traditional elastomer material (e.g., PD80) and with broad particle size range (e.g., PD84) were produced so that their performance characteristics could be tested and compared to each other and to control samples comprising no reclaimed material.
• Table 2 displays an exemplary sample control formulation ("CTRL"), which does not include any reclaimed elastomer material.
• Table 2 shows exemplary formulations comprising 3% by weight reclaimed elastomer material (i.e., "PD80 3%” and "PD84 3%, respectively).
• Table 2 shows other components or ingredients used in these exemplary rubber recipes/formulations, including native elastomer material, sulfurs, accelerators, and various other filler materials.
• reclaimed vulcanized elastomer particles are of limited use in elastomeric compositions as they generally lower the compositions' overall physical properties. Devulcanized reclaimed elastomer materials, however, have improved interaction with virgin elastomer material.
• sample elastomer formulations comprising both vulcanized and devulcanized reclaimed elastomer material
• Table 3 includes an exemplary sample control formulation
• CTRL 1 which contains no reclaimed elastomer material, and various other formulations comprising reclaimed elastomer material.
• Table 3 also includes a first exemplary formulation comprising 6% PD84 reclaimed material (“PD84 6%”).
• Table 3 includes exemplary sample formulations comprising both PD84 and a devulcanized elastomer (i.e., "SPJ80") as a reclaimed elastomer component, ("PD84 3% + SPJ80 3%” and “PD84 6% + SRI80 4%”) and exemplary formulations comprising only devulcanized elastomer (SRI80) as a reclaimed elastomer component (i.e., "SRI80 3%" and "SRI806%”).
• SPJ80 devulcanized elastomer
• SRI80 only devulcanized elastomer
• SRI80 refers to an exemplary type of devulcanized reclaimed elastomer material (e.g., functionalized or chemically modified reclaimed elastomer material), that was obtained from Sekhar Research Innovations, having a principal place of business in Malaysia, using PD80 manufactured by Lehigh Technologies, Inc. as the vulcanized particulate feedstock.
• SRI80 is simply one type of devulcanized elastomer material that can be utilized within embodiments of the present formulations or compositions, and aspects of the present disclosure are not intended to be limited in any way to use of a specific chemically modified elastomer material. Table 3. Exemplary Formulations With and Without Reclaimed Elastomer Material
• Table 4 displays further exemplary sample formulations for elastomer compositions.
• Table 4 includes one exemplary sample formulation comprising two reclaimed vulcanized elastomer materials ("PD84 3% + PD140 7%").
• Table 4 includes three exemplary sample formulations comprising both vulcanized and devulcanized reclaimed elastomer material ("PD84 3% + LG80 7%", “PD84 3% + LG80 12%", and "PD140 5% + LG80 10%”).
• Table 4 displays an exemplary formulation comprising a devulcanized elastomer as the only reclaimed elastomer material ("LG80 10%").
• LG80 refers to an exemplary type of devulcanized reclaimed elastomer material (e.g., functionalized or chemically modified reclaimed elastomer material), that was obtained from Levgum, Ltd., having a principal place of business in Kanot, Israel, using PD80 manufactured by Lehigh Technologies, Inc. as the vulcanized particulate feedstock.
• LG80 is simply one type of devulcanized elastomer material that can be utilized within embodiments of the present formulations or compositions, and aspects of the present disclosure are not intended to be limited in any way to use of a specific chemically modified elastomer material.
• Each of the exemplary sample formulations listed above included a styrene butadiene rubber (SBR1500), and, in certain cases, an SBR Black Masterbatch which includes SBR, carbon black and an aromatic oil) and a cis-l,4-polybutadiene synthetic rubber.
• SBR1500 styrene butadiene rubber
• SBR Black Masterbatch which includes SBR, carbon black and an aromatic oil
• cis-l,4-polybutadiene synthetic rubber included a styrene butadiene rubber (SBR1500), and, in certain cases, an SBR Black Masterbatch which includes SBR, carbon black and an aromatic oil) and a cis-l,4-polybutadiene synthetic rubber.
• the virgin or unvulcanized elastomer component of these formulations is
• compositions also included carbon black as a filler (N339) and other conventional rubber additives. These components were mixed together to form a masterbatch to which sulfur, n-tert-butyl-2 benzothiazolesulfenamide (TBBS) and, in certain cases, diphenyl guanidine (DPG) were added. TBBS and DPG are accelerators for the vulcanization reaction. A retarder N- (cyclohexylthio) phthalimide (CTP) was also added to the formulations to retard the onset of the curing reaction.
• the accelerator/retarder package used in the examples is merely exemplary and other known accelerators/retarders can also be used. As will be found in the examples.
• compositions shown and described in Tables 2-4 are provided for exemplary and illustrative purposes only, and are in no way intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
• the various exemplary formulations were used to form 6" x 6" x 0.080" elastomer sheets for testing purposes according to known and conventional rubber curing processes. The sheets were cured for 20 minutes at 160 °C. Tensile testing samples were cut from the cured sheets and five samples or specimens of each formulation were evaluated. In particular, break stress/tensile strength at break, 300% modulus, elongation at break/strain at break, and hardness were measured for each sample. Average values for each test result are displayed in Tables 6-8, which follow.
• rebound was measured for each sample. Rebound is an indicator of rolling resistance, specifically for elastomeric compositions used as tire tread compounds for vehicle tires. Rolling resistance is a factor in determining fuel economy, and therefore, elastomer formulations with higher rebound values are preferred. Average values for rebound are likewise displayed in Tables 6-8.
• Normalized tensile quality (or "NTQ") is a proprietary measure used as a means for quickly comparing the tensile properties of a test sample to a control sample.
• the NTQ measure takes into account the test results for break stress, 300% modulus, and elongation at break for a test sample relative to the same results for a control.
• NTQ can be defined as the product of break stress, modulus, and elongation for a specific sample divided by the product of the same test values for a control compound. Specifically:
• NTQ (sample break stress * sample modulus * sample elongation) /
• a normalized tensile rating of 100 indicates a sample comprising no reclaimed elastomer material (i.e., the control samples used in testing). As such, normalized tensile ratings closer to 100 typically suggest a sample with tensile properties akin to a control sample.
• the normalized tensile quality of each sample is displayed in Tables 6-8.
• relative costs were calculated for each of the controls and samples using the per-pound cost estimates for virgin elastomer material as well as vulcanized and devulcanized reclaimed elastomer material, as shown in Table 5, below.
• relative cost serves to illustrate the cost savings associated with replacing virgin matrix/elastomer material with reclaimed elastomer material in an elastomeric composition.
• Tables 5-8 the relative cost information provided in Tables 5-8 is provided for exemplary purposes only to demonstrate the cost benefits associated with embodiments of the present compositions and formulations, and is not way intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
• Table 5 Per-Pound Cost Estimates for Various Elastomer Materials
• Table 6 shows the test results for a control sample containing no reclaimed elastomer material as well as the results for two formulations comprising reclaimed vulcanized elastomer material.
• the particle size distributions for both PD84 3% and PD80 3% were explicitly detailed in Table 2, above.
• the sample with broad particle size range performed comparably to the sample with narrow particle size range (PD80 3%).
• the samples had high normalized tensile quality (75.4 and 77.4, respectively), with a relative difference 1 of approximately 2.67%.
• the hardness and rebound test results were likewise comparable with relative differences of 1.0% and 0.22%.
• Such results are unexpected since, as noted previously, it had been assumed that elastomeric compositions comprising reclaimed elastomer material having a broad range of particle sizes would exhibit poor performance characteristics as compared to elastomeric compositions comprising reclaimed elastomer material having uniform particle size.
• PD84 3% which comprises reclaimed vulcanized material with a broad range of particle sizes, has a lower relative cost (97.8) than the PD80 3% sample (98.0).
• Table 6 The results displayed in Table 6 are significant as they demonstrate that formulations comprising reclaimed vulcanized elastomer material display performance characteristics comparable to formulations comprising no reclaimed material. Further, and more significantly, the Table 6 results demonstrate that samples comprising reclaimed elastomer material with broad particle range (i.e., PD84) performed comparably to those comprising more traditional reclaimed elastomer material, PD80 in this case. These results are advantageous as the reclaimed material with broad particle range offers lower relative cost and is significantly easier and cheaper to manufacture as it does not require extensive screening, sorting, and distribution of particles as is typically necessary for reclaimed elastomer material compositions with uniform particle size distributions such as PD80.
• PD84 broad particle range
• Table 7 displays test results for a control sample containing no reclaimed elastomer material as well as the results for two formulations comprising reclaimed vulcanized elastomer material, both with broad particle size range (PD84 2 3% and PD84 6%). Additionally, Table 7 shows results for samples comprising a combination of vulcanized and devulcanized reclaimed elastomer material (PD84 3% & SRI80 3% and PD84 6% & SRI80 4%). Finally, Table 7 shows results for a sample
• Table 8 displays results for a control sample with no reclaimed elastomer material as well as a sample comprising a combination of reclaimed vulcanized elastomer materials (PD84 3% & PD140 7%). Additionally, Table 8 displays results for samples comprising a combination of vulcanized and devulcanized reclaimed elastomer material (PD84 3% & LG80 7%, PD84 3% & LG80 12%, and PD140 5% & LG80 10%). Table 8 also displays test results for a sample comprising reclaimed devulcanized material but no reclaimed vulcanized material.
• Table 7 illustrates that elastomer compositions comprising higher percentages of reclaimed vulcanized elastomer material demonstrated diminished performance characteristics as compared to samples comprising lower percentages of reclaimed vulcanized elastomer material.
• PD84 6% had a normalized tensile quality of 74.1, which was a relative difference of 3.71 as compared to the PD84_2 3% sample.
• this limitation can be ameliorated by incorporating a combination of vulcanized and devulcanized reclaimed elastomer material in to an elastomer composition.
• samples comprising reclaimed vulcanized elastomer material exhibit normalized tensile quality that is adequate and acceptable for most commercial applications, but with significant cost savings over conventional formulations with no reclaimed vulcanized elastomer material, particularly samples comprising combinations of vulcanized and devulcanized reclaimed elastomer material ("combination samples").
• NTQ of 76.3 outperformed PD84 6% (NTQ of 74.1, relative difference of 3.71). Both samples comprised 6% by weight of reclaimed elastomer material, but the combination sample included both vulcanized and devulcanized material, thus demonstrating the advantage of combining vulcanized and devulcanized material.
• the PD84 3% & SRI80 3% combination sample did, however, have a higher relative cost than the PD84 6% sample, as shown in Table 7.
• the combination samples in Table 8 (i.e., PD84 3% & LG80 7%, PD84 3% & LG80 12%, and PD140 5% & LG80 10%), on the other hand, which comprise between 10% and 15% by weight of reclaimed elastomer material, performed comparably to the control sample, which comprises no reclaimed elastomer material.
• the combination samples shown in Table 8 significantly outperformed the samples comprising only vulcanized reclaimed elastomer material.
• the PD84 3% & LG80 7% which comprises 10% by weight of reclaimed material, had an NTQ of 88.5 and relative cost of 94.1 , a relative difference of 14.03 and 3.86, respectively, as compared to the PD84_2 3% sample, which comprises only 3% of reclaimed material.
• PD84 3% & LG80 12% which comprises 15% by weight of reclaimed material, had an NTQ of 84.8 and relative cost of 91.4, a relative difference of 9.77 and 6.77, respectively, as compared to the PD84_2 3%.
• the results are advantageous as the Table 8 combination samples perform comparably to the control samples and also offer cost savings. Further, as the
• combination samples incorporate reclaimed elastomer material with broad particle size distribution (i.e., PD84), there is a resultant savings in manufacturing cost.
• PD84 broad particle size distribution
• reclaimed elastomer materials with wide particle size ranges e.g., PD84
• elastomeric compositions would lead to poor performance characteristics as compared to more traditional reclaimed elastomer materials with narrow particle size ranges (e.g., PD80).
• the Table 2 test results show, however, that samples incorporating materials with wide particle size ranges perform comparably to more traditional samples.
• reclaimed elastomer materials with wide particle size ranges offer a cost savings over the more traditional materials with narrow particle range, and they are likewise easier to manufacture.

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