Methods of functionalizing reclaimed elastomer material and compositions comprising the same

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A method of devulcanizing ground reclaimed elastomer particles having intra-chain and inter-chain bonds, the method comprising:
subjecting the ground reclaimed elastomer particles to shear by feeding the ground reclaimed elastomer particles into a nip point between first and second counter-rotating rolls at temperatures less than 100° C., wherein the distance between the first and second counter-rotating rolls is less than 0.1 mm, such that the inter-chain bonds of the ground reclaimed elastomer particles are cleaved to form a spongy mass of devulcanized elastomer material, wherein the ground reclaimed elastomer particles comprise a size less than or equal to 40 mesh before being subjected to shear.