Abstract: Elastomer composite blends are produced by novel wet/dry mixing methods and apparatus. In the wet mixing step or stage, fluid streams of particulate filler and elastomer latex are fed to the mixing zone of a coagulum reactor to form a mixture in semi-confined flow continuously from the mixing zone through a coagulum zone to a discharge end of the reactor. The particulate filler fluid is fed under high pressure to the mixing zone, such as to form a jet stream to entrain elastomer latex fluid sufficiently energetically to substantially completely coagulate the elastomer with the particulate filler prior to the discharge end. Highly efficient and effective elastomer coagulation is achieved without the need for a coagulation step involving exposure to acid or salt solution or the like. Novel elastomer composites are produced.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 8, 2001
Date of Patent:
September 12, 2006
Assignee:
Cabot Corporation
Inventors:
Melinda Ann Mabry, Ting Wang, Ivan Zlatko Podobnik, James A. Shell, Allan Clark Morgan, Bin Chung, Noboru Tokita