Microsphere-filled sealant materials
View Patent ↗The present invention includes a method of sealing an enclosable container, the method entails positioning a sealant material within the enclosable container, and closing the enclosable container to compress the sealant material. The sealant material includes a silicone gel, a microsphere filler, and optionally, a silica filler.
1. A method of sealing an enclosable container, the method comprising:
positioning a sealant material within the enclosable container, wherein the sealant material is present within less than the entire interior of the container and wherein the sealant material comprises a silicone gel and a microsphere filler distributed within the silicone gel; and
closing the enclosable container to compress the sealant material, wherein the sealant material comprises a first portion and second portion, and wherein closure of the enclosable container compresses the first portion against the second portion;
wherein the first portion and the second portion each have an exposed-surface area and a side-surface area, wherein the exposed-surface area is smaller than the side-surface area, and wherein the exposed-surface area of the first portion contacts the exposed-surface area of the second portion.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the silicone gel comprises:
about 60.0% to about 85.0% by weight of the silicone gel of an organopolysiloxane;
about 10.0% to about 40.0% by weight of the silicone gel of a vinyl siloxane; and
about 0.5% to about 6.0% by weight of the silicone gel of a hydrosiloxane.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the silicone gel further comprises a platinum catalyst, or a derivative thereof.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the microsphere filler comprises an expanded thermoplastic microsphere filler.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the microsphere filler constitutes about 0.5% to about 10.0% by weight of the sealant material.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the sealant material further comprises a silica filler.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the silica filler constitutes about 1.0% to about 20.0% by weight of the sealant material.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the silicone gel comprises:
about 60.0% to about 85.0% by weight of the silicone gel of an organopolysiloxane;
about 10.0% to about 40.0% by weight of the silicone gel of a vinyl siloxane; and
about 0.5% to about 10.0% by weight of the silicone gel of a hydrosiloxane.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the silicone gel further comprises a platinum catalyst, or a derivative thereof.
10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the microsphere filler comprises an expanded thermoplastic microsphere filler.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the microsphere filler constitutes about 0.5% to about 10.0% by weight of the sealant material and the silica filler constitutes about 1.0% to about 20.0% by weight of the sealant material.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second portions of the sealant material is pre-molded to create a pre-shaped piece prior to the positioning of the sealant material within the enclosable container.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sealant material has a tack ranging from 1.0 to 1.9 grams.
14. A method of sealing an enclosable container having a component extending into the enclosable container, the method comprising:
positioning a sealant material within the enclosable container and adjacent to the component, wherein the sealant material comprises a silicone gel and a microsphere filler and wherein the sealant material is present within less than the entire interior of the container; and
closing the enclosable container to compress the sealant material around the component;
wherein the sealant material comprises a first portion and second portion, and wherein closure of the enclosable container compresses the first portion against the second portion around the component; and
wherein first portion and the second portion each have an exposed-surface area and a side-surface area, wherein the exposed-surface area is smaller than the side-surface area, and wherein the exposed-surface area of the first portion contacts the exposed-surface area of the second portion.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the component comprises a cable.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the silicone gel comprises:
about 60.0% to about 85.0% by weight of the silicone gel of an organopolysiloxane;
about 10.0% to about 40.0% by weight of the silicone gel of a vinyl siloxane; and
about 0.5% to about 10.0% by weight of the silicone gel of a hydrosiloxane.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the microsphere filler constitutes about 0.5% to about 10.0% by weight of the sealant material.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the sealant material further comprises a silica filler.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the silicone gel comprises:
about 60.0% to about 85.0% by weight of the silicone gel of an organopolysiloxane;
about 10.0% to about 40.0% by weight of the silicone gel of a vinyl siloxane; and
about 0.5% to about 10.0% by weight of the silicone gel of a hydrosiloxane.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the microsphere filler constitutes about 0.5% to about 10.0% by weight of the sealant material and the silica filler constitutes about 1.0% to about 20.0% by weight of the sealant material.
21. A sealable device comprising:
a container capable of being closed to define an interior portion;
a sealant material disposed within the interior portion, wherein the sealant material comprises a silicone gel and a microsphere filler, wherein the sealant material is present within less than the entire interior of the container and wherein closure of the container is effective to compress the sealant material and seal the container, wherein the container comprises a pair of cover members adapted to fold together to close the container;
wherein the sealant material comprises a first portion and second portion, and wherein closure of the container is effective to compress the first portion against the second portion; and
wherein the first portion and the second portion each have an exposed-surface area and a side-surface area, wherein the exposed-surface area is smaller than the side-surface area, and wherein the exposed-surface area of the first portion contacts the exposed-surface area of the second portion.
22. The sealable device of claim 21 , wherein the sealable device is adapted to receive a component that extends within the sealable device.
23. The sealable device of claim 22 , wherein the sealant material provides a seal adjacent to the component.
24. The sealable device of claim 21 , wherein the silicone gel comprises:
about 60.0% to about 85.0% by weight of the silicone gel of an organopolysiloxane;
about 10.0% to about 40.0% by weight of the silicone gel of a vinyl siloxane; and
about 0.5% to about 10.0% by weight of the silicone gel of a hydrosiloxane.
25. The sealable device of claim 24 , wherein the sealant material further comprises a silica filler.
26. The sealable device of claim 25 , wherein the microsphere filler constitutes about 0.5% to about 10.0% by weight of the sealant material and the silica filler constitutes about 1.0% to about 20.0% by weight of the sealant material.