Abstract: The residual hydrogenation catalyst from the hydrogenated nitrile rubber solution is recovered by using two steps such as (1) the catalyst extraction step with an ammonium salt and water (optionally including an oxidation step) to extract catalyst from the HNBR polymer chain to the solvent and then (2) the separation/column recovery step with the column packed with functional ion exchange resins for the separation of ammonia-catalyst complex from hydrogenated nitrile rubber solution and the column recovery for the high catalyst recovery with functional groups of resins. The ammonium salt for the catalyst extraction step is selected from ammonium chloride, ammonium bromide, ammonium iodide, and ammonium acetate. The functional groups in the functional ion exchange resins for packing the column is selected from thiourea, thiouronium, thiol, amine, diamine, triamine, TMT, dithiocarbamate, and carbodithioate.

Abstract: The residual hydrogenation catalyst from the hydrogenated nitrile rubber solution is recovered by using two steps such as (1) the catalyst extraction step with an ammonium salt and water (optionally including an oxidation step) to extract catalyst from the HNBR polymer chain to the solvent and then (2) the separation/column recovery step with the column packed with functional ion exchange resins for the separation of ammonia-catalyst complex from hydrogenated nitrile rubber solution and the column recovery for the high catalyst recovery with functional groups of resins. The ammonium salt for the catalyst extraction step is selected from ammonium chloride, ammonium bromide, ammonium iodide, and ammonium acetate. The functional groups in the functional ion exchange resins for packing the column is selected from thiourea, thiouronium, thiol, amine, diamine, triamine, TMT, dithiocarbamate, and carbodithioate.

Abstract: A highly damping homogenous elastomeric polymer blend. The elastomeric polymer blend comprises from about 50% to about 95 wt % epihalohydrin and from about 5% to about 50 wt % polymethylmethacrylate. The blend is homogenous and has a vertical rebound between 0 and about 10% and a Tg between about ?20° C. and about 45° C. when measured by rheology.

Abstract: To provide a method for producing a rubber composition which gives a cross-linked rubber which has a low volume resistivity value, which is low in hardness, and which is kept down in contamination of the photoconductor when used as a conductive member. A production method of a rubber composition comprising a step of mixing a polyether rubber which is dissolved in a solvent at 0.1 to 30 wt % of concentration and a liquid ethylenically unsaturated nitrile-conjugated diene copolymer rubber in a solution is provided.

Abstract: To provide a method for producing a rubber composition which gives a cross-linked rubber which has a low volume resistivity value, which is low in hardness, and which is kept down in contamination of the photoconductor when used as a conductive member. A production method of a rubber composition comprising a step of mixing a polyether rubber which is dissolved in a solvent at 0.1 to 30 wt % of concentration and a liquid ethylenically unsaturated nitrile-conjugated diene copolymer rubber in a solution is provided.

Abstract: An inspection system for inspecting rubber crumb includes a conveyor, lighting, a camera, and a controller. The conveyor is used to carry the rubber crumb. The lighting is positioned above the conveyor to illuminate the rubber crumb with at least 3,500 lumens. The camera is positioned adjacent to the lighting to take images of the illuminated rubber crumb in the lighted area. The controller receives the images from the camera and detects a contamination in the rubber crumb by determining whether there is a dark particle within the crumb. If a contamination is detected, it may be removed from the remaining rubber crumb.

Abstract: A water swellable rubber composition comprising (a) a non-water swellable base rubber, (b) an ethylene oxide based hydrophilic elastomer having from zero up to 20 mole % of a crosslinkable curable functional group, and (c) a water swellable non-elastomeric material. The composition has excellent water swell characteristics under prolonged exposure to high temperature and various electrolyte solutions and is suitable for oil field applications. When (b) has from zero to less than 5 mole % of crosslinkable functional group, the amount of (b) is between about 30 parts and 300 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of (a) and the amount of (c) is between about 20 parts and 200 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of (a), the composition is characterized by good shape retention after undergoing constrained swell, and a high degree of constrained swell at elevated temperatures in different saline concentrations.

Abstract: A water swellable rubber composition comprising (a) a non-water swellable base rubber, (b) an ethylene oxide based hydrophilic elastomer having from zero up to and including 20 mole % of a crosslinkable curable functional group, and (c) a water swellable non-elastomeric material. The composition has excellent water swell characteristics under prolonged exposure to high temperature and various electrolyte solutions (strongly saline as well as acid conditions) and is particularly suitable for oil field applications.

Abstract: Coalesced rubber particles having an average particle size of 5-50 microns are produced by: (1) adding simultaneously to a latex of pre-crosslinked rubber particles a solvent and an electrolyte solution to form swollen rubber aggregation particles, wherein the solvent has a lower boiling point than water and a capacity of swelling the rubber by at least 10 wt %, and the electrolyte is a solution of at least one metal salt; (2) removing the solvent under atmospheric pressure or low vacuum and at temperature greater than 80° C. to coalesce the rubber into particles having an average particle size of 5-50 50 microns; (3) filtering and washing with methanol; and (4) filtering the washed particles to remove methanol. An epoxy resin is blended with the particles and residual methanol removed, to obtain a blend containing coalesced rubber particles having an average particle size of 5-50 microns in the blended state.

Abstract: Coalesced rubber particles having an average particle size of 5-50 microns are produced by: (1) adding simultaneously to a latex of pre-crosslinked rubber particles a solvent and an electrolyte solution to form swollen rubber aggregation particles, wherein the solvent has a lower boiling point than water and a capacity of swelling the rubber by at least 10 wt %, and the electrolyte is a solution of at least one metal salt; (2) removing the solvent under atmospheric pressure or low vacuum and at temperature greater than 80° C. to coalesce the rubber into particles having an average particle size of 5-50 50 microns; (3) filtering and washing with methanol; and (4) filtering the washed particles to remove methanol. An epoxy resin is blended with the particles and residual methanol removed, to obtain a blend containing coalesced rubber particles having an average particle size of 5-50 microns in the blended state.

Abstract: A vulcanizable elastomer composition having improved adhesion to other polymers and comprising at least one elastomer and an adhesion promoting curative and stabilizer system, wherein the adhesion promoting curative and stabilizer system comprises: a) an organic peroxide; b) a diazabicycloamine; c) an isocyanurate; d) a layered organically modified inorganic nanofiller; and e) optionally an antioxidant. The elastomer composition has good heat aging properties, even when antioxidants are not used, and exhibits strong adhesion to other polymers upon vulcanization.

Abstract: A method for producing a rubber composition which gives a cross-linked rubber which has a low volume resistivity value, which is low in hardness, and which is kept down in contamination of the photoconductor when used as a conductive member is provided, that is, a production method of a rubber composition comprising a step of mixing a polyether rubber which is dissolved in a solvent at 0.1 to 30 wt % of concentration and a liquid ethylenically unsaturated nitrile-conjugated diene copolymer rubber in a solution is provided.

Abstract: An adhesion promoting curative and stabilizer system for an elastomer comprises: a) an organic peroxide; b) a diazabicycloamine; c) an isocyanurate; d) a layered organically modified inorganic nanofiller; and e) optionally an antioxidant. Elastomer compositions comprising the curative and stabilizer system have good heat aging properties, even without the use of antioxidants in compounding the elastomer compositions, and exhibit strong adhesion to other polymers upon vulcanization.

Abstract: A water swellable rubber composition comprising (a) a non-water swellable base rubber, (b) an ethylene oxide based hydrophilic elastomer having from zero up to and including 20 mole % of a crosslinkable curable functional group, and (c) a water swellable non-elastomeric material. The composition has excellent water swell characteristics under prolonged exposure to high temperature and various electrolyte solutions (strongly saline as well as acid conditions) and is particularly suitable for oil field applications.

Abstract: A water swellable rubber composition comprising (a) a non-water swellable base rubber, (b) a crosslinkable ethylene oxide based hydrophilic elastomer having at least one curable functional group, and (c) a water swellable non-elastomeric material. The composition has excellent water swell characteristics under prolonged exposure to high temperature and various electrolyte solutions (strong salinity as well as acid conditions) and is particularly suitable for oil field applications.

Abstract: A multi-part rubber compound comprising: (1) a first compound comprising an elastomer (1)(a) and a vulcanizing agent, and having a ts2 of at least 1.5 minutes; (2) a second compound comprising an elastomer (2)(a) and a cure accelerator, and having a ts2 of at least 1.5 minutes; and (3) one or more optional compound comprising an elastomer (3)(a) and having a ts2 of at least 1.5 minutes; wherein: at least one of (1)(a), (2)(a) and (3)(a) has a Mooney viscosity of 20-75 measured at 100° C. (ASTM D1646), the first, second and optional compounds are kept separate until the multi-part compound is used, a blend of equal volumes of the first and second compounds, optionally with an equal volume of the optional compound, has a ts2 of less than 0.7 minutes, ts2 being measured at 190° C.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for hydrogenating a latex of a low molecular weight functionalized, unsaturated elastomer to produce a latex of a hydrogenated, low molecular weight, low gel, functionalized elastomer, said process comprising hydrogenating the low molecular weight, functionalized, unsaturated elastomer in the presence of (1) an oxidant selected from the group consisting of oxygen and hydroperoxides, (2) a reducing agent selected from the group consisting of hydrazine and hydrazine hydrates, and (3) a metal ion activator, wherein a hydroxylamine is added to the latex of the low molecular weight, functionalized, unsaturated elastomer or to the latex of the hydrogenated, low molecular weight, functionalized elastomer prior, during, or subsequent to the hydrogenation to produce the latex of the hydrogenated low molecular weight, low gel, functionalized elastomer.

Abstract: A fast curing vulcanizable multi-part rubber compound comprising: (1) a first rubber compound comprising: (a) an elastomer, and (b) at least one vulcanizing agent, this first rubber compound having a ts2 value of at least 1.5 minutes when measured at 190° C.; (2) a second rubber compound comprising: (a) an elastomer, and (b) at least one cure accelerator, this second rubber compound having a ts2 value of at least 1.5 minutes when measured at 190° C.; and (3) one or more optional additional rubber compound comprising (a) at least one elastomer, this optional additional rubber compound having a ts2 value of at least 1.5 minutes when measured at 190° C.; wherein: at least one elastomer selected from the group consisting of the elastomer (1)(a), the elastomer (2)(a) and the elastomer (3)(a) has a Mooney viscosity in the range of 20-75, preferably 20-50, and more preferably 30-50, as measured at 100° C.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for hydrogenating a latex of a low molecular weight functionalized, unsaturated elastomer to produce a latex of a hydrogenated, low molecular weight, low gel, functionalized elastomer, said process comprising hydrogenating the low molecular weight, functionalized, unsaturated elastomer in the presence of (1) an oxidant selected from the group consisting of oxygen and hydroperoxides, (2) a reducing agent selected from the group consisting of hydrazine and hydrazine hydrates, and (3) a metal ion activator, wherein a hydroxylamine is added to the latex of the low molecular weight, functionalized, unsaturated elastomer or to the latex of the hydrogenated, low molecular weight, functionalized elastomer prior, during, or subsequent to the hydrogenation to produce the latex of the hydrogenated low molecular weight, low gel, functionalized elastomer.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for hydrogenating a latex of a low molecular weight functionalized, unsaturated elastomer to produce a latex of a hydrogenated, low molecular weight, low gel, functionalized elastomer, said process comprising hydrogenating the low molecular weight, functionalized, unsaturated elastomer in the presence of (1) an oxidant selected from the group consisting of oxygen and hydroperoxides, (2) a reducing agent selected from the group consisting of hydrazine and hydrazine hydrates, and (3) a metal ion activator, wherein a hydroxylamine is added to the latex of the low molecular weight, functionalized, unsaturated elastomer or to the latex of the hydrogenated, low molecular weight, functionalized elastomer prior, during, or subsequent to the hydrogenation to produce the latex of the hydrogenated low molecular weight, low gel, functionalized elastomer.