Thermoplastic gel sealants
View Patent ↗Provided according to embodiments of the invention are thermoplastic gel compositions that include a block copolymer; a hydrocarbon tackifier resin; and a hydrocarbon oil. Further, in some embodiments, such compositions may include at least one antioxidant. Also provided are connectors that include a composition according to an embodiment of the invention.
1. A thermoplastic gel comprising:
3 to 18 weight percent of at least one block copolymer comprising
at least one diblock copolymer that comprises polystyrene and a saturated hydrocarbon polymer; and
at least one triblock copolymer that comprises polystyrene and a saturated hydrocarbon polymer, wherein the ratio of the at least one diblock copolymer to the at least one triblock copolymer is 7.6:1;
2 to 15 weight percent of a hydrocarbon tackifier resin having a melting point of greater than 40° C.;
75 to 95 weight percent of a hydrocarbon oil;
at least one antioxidant; and
an antimicrobial agent,
wherein the gel exhibits an antioxidant bloom on the surface of the gel within 30 days at room temperature.
2. The thermoplastic gel of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon oil is a paraffinic oil having a flash point in a range of 400° F. to 550° F.
3. The thermoplastic gel of claim 1 , wherein the at least one antioxidant comprises a hindered phenol.
4. The thermoplastic gel of claim 1 , wherein the at least one antioxidant is present in the thermoplastic gel at a concentration in a range of about 0.3 to about 5 weight percent.
5. The thermoplastic gel of claim 1 , wherein the at least one antioxidant forms a bloom on the surface of the gel within 24 hours after aging at 60° C.
6. The thermoplastic gel of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic gel has a tack in a range of 3 to 25 g, as measured by the force required to remove 6.35 mm steel ball from a 4 mm depth in the gel at a rate of 2 mm/s.
7. The thermoplastic gel of claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional additive selected from the group consisting of a corrosion inhibitor, a light stabilizer, a heat stabilizer, a pigment and a thickening agent.
8. The thermoplastic gel of claim 1 , wherein the cone penetration of the thermoplastic gel is in a range of 225 to about 325, as determined by ASTM D217.
9. The thermoplastic gel of claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial agent is a fungicide.
10. The thermoplastic gel of claim 9 , wherein the fungicide is thiabendazole.
11. The thermoplastic gel of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon tackifier resin has a melting point of greater than 90° C.
12. The thermoplastic gel of claim 1 , wherein the at least one triblock copolymer is present at 1 wt %.
13. The thermoplastic gel of claim 6 , wherein the thermoplastic gel has a tack in a range of 11 to 15 g, as measured by the force required to remove 6.35 mm steel ball from a 4 mm depth in the gel at a rate of 2 mm/s.
14. The thermoplastic gel of claim 1 , wherein the at least one diblock copolymer is present at 7.6 wt %.
15. A connector that comprises the thermoplastic gel of claim 1 .
16. The connector of claim 15 , wherein the connector is a coax connector, data connector, telecommunications cable and/or an electrical connector.