Abstract: The present invention relates to elastomeric compositions and methods including compositions and methods involving the use of aromatic alcohols. The present invention further relates to elastomeric compositions that can include ground reclaimed elastomeric particles. Compositions of the present invention are usable in numerous elastomeric applications including interior and exterior vehicle parts, roofing, asphalt, and any other applications that employ an elastomer as an ingredient thereof, particularly those utilizing rubber or a similar elastomer. The present invention further is directed to asphalt compositions and their methods of manufacture and use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for predispersing additives used in a compounding process, as well as to predispersed particles. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods for predispersing, particularly ground elastomers which are used as compounding ingredients for many applications, especially for the production of rubber or plastic materials such as tires.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of reducing particle size by the use of a supercritical gas, such as carbon dioxide or a refrigerant. The material is swollen by the supercritical gas at a high pressure. After the material has been allowed to swell under a high pressure, the pressure is rapidly dropped. When the external pressure is rapidly dropped, the material explodes as the supercritical gas absorbed into the material rapidly expands outward.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of reducing particle size by the use of a supercritical fluid, generally carbon dioxide. The material is swollen by the supercritical carbon dioxide at a high pressure. After the material has been allowed to swell under a high pressure, the pressure is rapidly dropped. When the external pressure is rapidly dropped, the material explodes as the supercritical gas absorbed into the material rapidly expands outward.

Abstract: A comminuting apparatus for reducing the size of particles, having a frame providing an internal perimeter and having a shape; a stone having a grinding surface for grinding a material and providing a perimeter having a shape corresponding to the shape of the perimeter of the frame and configured to be at least partially surrounded by the frame; wherein when the frame is rotated the perimeter of the frame is configured to coact with the perimeter of the stone such that the stone is rotated at substantially the same rate as the frame.

Abstract: The present invention relates to elastomeric compostions and methods including compositions and methods involving the use of aromatic alcohols. The present invention further relates to elastomeric compositions that can include ground reclaimed elastomeric particles. Compositions of the present invention are usable in numerous elastomeric applications including interior and exterior vehicle parts, roofing, asphalt, and any other applications that employ an elastomer as an ingredient thereof, particularly those utilizing rubber or a similar elastomer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of reducing particle size by the use of a supercritical fluid, generally carbon dioxide. The material is swollen by the supercritical carbon dioxide at a high pressure. After the material has been allowed to swell under a high pressure, the pressure is rapidly dropped. When the external pressure is rapidly dropped, the material explodes as the supercritical gas absorbed into the material rapidly expands outward.

Abstract: A method for predispersing additives, especially pigments and colorants used in a compounding process is described herein. The instant method comprises cogrinding an elastomer and a sufficient amount of a colorant to produce a colored particle. A particle comprising an elastomer which is in a mixture with a colorant is also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of reducing particle size by the use of a supercritical fluid, generally carbon dioxide. The material is swollen by the supercritical carbon dioxide at a high pressure. After the material has been allowed to swell under a high pressure, the pressure is rapidly dropped. When the external pressure is rapidly dropped, the material explodes as the supercritical gas absorbed into the material rapidly expands outward.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for converting an elastomer to a decreased size in a grinding apparatus is disclosed. The method includes optionally soaking the elastomer in a first additive. The method further includes reducing the size of the elastomer to form at least one elastomer particle of a first size. The method also includes optionally removing impurities from the elastomer. Further, the method includes adding a carrier to the elastomer particle to form an elastomer slurry. Also, the method includes providing a second additive to the slurry. In addition, the method includes converting the elastomer particle to a second size, the second size being less than the first size. The method also includes recovering the elastomer particle of the second size.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for converting an elastomer to a decreased size in a grinding apparatus is disclosed. The method includes optionally soaking the elastomer in a first additive. The method further includes reducing the size of the elastomer to form at least one elastomer particle of a first size. The method also includes optionally removing impurities from the elastomer. Further, the method includes adding a carrier to the elastomer particle to form an elastomer slurry. Also, the method includes providing a second additive to the slurry. In addition, the method includes converting the elastomer particle to a second size, the second size being less than the first size. The method also includes recovering the elastomer particle of the second size. The invention also relates to novel ground elastomers and methods for their use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for predispersing additives used in a compounding process, as well as to predispersed particles. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods for predispersing, particularly ground elastomers which are used as compounding ingredients for many applications, especially for the production of rubber or plastic materials such as tires.

Abstract: A grinding stone useful for a variety of comminuting applications, but especially useful for comminuting of rubber particles, comprises a cured mixture of a grit material (such as silicon carbide), an aqueous emulsion of an organic polymeric binding material, (such as an epoxy emulsion), a wetting agent, such as DAXAD™, a surfactant commercially available from the Hampshire Corporation of Lexington, Mass., and an inorganic binding material (preferably portland cement). The grinding stones can be prepared at room temperature, using readily available equipment, and at a greatly reduced cost when compared to current grinding stones prepared from silicon carbide and a vitrified ceramic binder. The stones of the present invention may be molded to a metal support plate, resulting in further process efficiencies and reduced stone manufacture and replacement costs.

Abstract: Grinding stones for rubber comminuting machines are segmented and are applied to backing plates using adhesives. Greater stone life is realized when compared to grinding devices which use mechanical clamps to hold the stones against the plate, and less breakage is encountered using segmented stones than similarly shaped unitary stones known to the art. In the most preferred embodiment, the area between adjacent ends of the stone segments are filled with the same adhesive used to adhere the stones to the backing plates.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for conveying solid particulate material which includes a generally flexible receptacle fixedly situated within a frame. The receptacle has a top, a bottom, at least one wall defining an interior and a longitudinal axis perpendicular with the top and bottom. The improvement comprises a dump structure at the bottom comprising a dump aperture, a first flap, and a second flap. The first flap has a first connection along a first flap width with the wall and with the frame adjacent to the dump aperture, extends a first length from the first connection, and is swingable about the first connection from a first position blocking the dump aperture toward an open position. The second flap has a second connection along a second width with the wall and with the frame adjacent to the dump aperture and is swingable about the second connection from a closed position blocking the dump aperture toward an open position.

Abstract: A comminuting apparatus for rubber has two vertically mounted opposing facing grinding stones of large size having hollow centers. Interposed between these two stones, both of which, as stators, are fixed and do not rotate, is a single rotor having double-sided opposed abrasive grinding stone faces, mounted for rotation but floating laterally or horizontally in position between the two opposed fixed stones. The spacing between the opposed sets of grinding stones is set by increasing or decreasing the spacing between the outer most stator and the fixed inner stator. So long as the rotor rotates for grinding, the floating center stones will position themselves equally between the two stators so as to equalize the dynamic slurry pressure imposed during the grinding process upon the faces of the stones.

Abstract: A rubber modified asphalt for use as a paving compound is formed by reacting very fine ground particulate rubber with paving grade asphalt and mixing the combination at between 300 and 400 degrees F. The resulting mixture reacts fully within 25 minutes or less to form a freely pouring mixture; the reacted mixture can be held at normal asphalt working temperatures for at least 96 hours without degradation.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for continuous batch operation for producing an elastomeric asphaltic compound of rubber and asphalt for paving purposes comprising an essentially cylindrical mixing tank containing rotary internal agitators, preferably at three levels within the tank. The apparatus is equipped with a asphalt oil pump, which flows asphalt oil through a pre-heater into the mixing tanks, and with a separate spiral or screw conveyor for loading through the top of the tank a continuous supply of fine rubber at a controllable feed rate. The entire tank is suspended upon a frame supported by load cells so as to provide a continuing measurement of the total weight of the asphalt load and of the added rubber. The temperature of the asphalt oil raised by the pre-heater until substantially all the asphalt oil reacts with the rubber in the time required to flow the mixture through the stirring tanks, providing a continuous flow process for providing paving grade asphalt rubber mixtures.

Abstract: An extremely efficient reduction of ten mesh feedstock to minus 80 mesh fine elastomeric rubber product may be obtained by interconnecting two sequential grinding mills. The first mill is fed a feedstock slurry reaching ten mesh particle elastomers in a transport fluid such as water. This mill is set to produce a minus 30 to 40 mesh in a single pass, preferably by use of a relatively coarse grinding stone producing a relatively high through put. Water or transport fluid is then added to the thirty mesh output of the first state to bring it back to a transportable slurry which is then fed to a second grinding stage set to produce an average minus 80 mesh particle. This can be produced best by a finer grit grindstone and concomitant advantages will occur due to the uniformity of the feedstock and the lack of large particles in achieving a higher through put.

Abstract: A rubber modified asphalt for use as a paving compound is formed by reacting very fine ground particulate rubber with paving grade asphalt and mixing the combination at between 300 and 400 degrees F. The resulting mixture reacts fully within 25 minutes or less to form a freely pouring mixture; the reacted mixture can be held at normal asphalt working temperatures for at least 96 hours without degradation.