ORGANO-NEUTRALIZED DIATOMACEOUS EARTH, METHODS OF PREPARATION, AND USES THEREOF
This application discusses organo-neutralized diatomaceous earth, comprising at least one diatomaceous earth subjected to at least one treatment with at least one basic organic compound. Also disclosed herein is a composition, such as a silicone rubber composition or a paper composition, comprising organo-neutralized diatomaceous earth. Also disclosed herein are methods of making organo-neutralized diatomaceous earth and methods of making silicone rubber formulations comprising a organo-neutralized diatomaceous earth filler.
1 - 79 . (canceled)
80 . An organo-neutralized diatomaceous earth, comprising at least one diatomaceous earth comprising at least one acidic surface site at least partially neutralized by at least one basic organic compound.
81 . The composition according to claim 80 , wherein the at least one diatomaceous earth is chosen from the group consisting of natural, calcined, and flux-calcined diatomaceous earth.
82 . The composition according to claim 80 , wherein the at least one basic organic compound comprises at least one basic group chosen from the group consisting of amines and imines.
83 . The composition according to claim 82 , wherein the at least one basic group is at least one amine chosen from the group consisting of amino ethers, alkanolamines, aminosilanes, ethyleneamines, and aminoesters.
84 . The composition according to claim 82 , wherein the at least one basic group is at least one amine chosen from the group consisting of methylamine, ethylamine, diethylamine, 1,3-propanediamine, and primary, secondary and tertiary polyamines.
85 . The composition according to claim 82 , wherein the at least one basic group is at least one imine chosen from the group consisting of ethyleneimines and polyethyleneimines.
86 . The composition according to claim 83 , wherein the amino ether is chosen from the group consisting of polyether amines and morpholines.
87 . The composition according to claim 83 , wherein the alkanolamine is chosen from the group consisting of 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, monoisopropanolamine, triisopropanolamine, diethylaminoethanol, methylethanolamine, dimethylethanolamine, ethylaminoethanol, amino-methypropanol, and alkanolamine aminomethylpropanol.
88 . The composition according to claim 83 , wherein the aminosilane is chosen from the group consisting of 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, trimethoxysilylpropyldiethylenetriamine, 2-(trimethoxysilylethyl) pyridine, N-(3-trimethoxysilylpropyl)pyrrole, trimethoxysilylpropyl polyethyleneimine, bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, and bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-amino propyltriethoxysilane.
89 . The composition according to claim 83 , wherein the ethyleneamine is chosen from the group consisting of ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, piperazine, N-aminoethylpiperazine, triethylenetetramine, tetraethylenepentamine, pentaethylenehexamine, and higher ethylenepolyamines.
90 . The composition according to claim 80 , wherein the at least one basic organic compound is alkanolamine aminomethylpropanol.
91 . The composition according to claim 80 , wherein the organo-neutralized diatomaceous earth has a pKa ranging from 4.0 to 7.0.
92 . The composition according to claim 80 , wherein the at least one basic organic compound is added in an amount from about 0.1% to about 5% relative to the total weight of the diatomaceous earth.
93 . A silicone rubber composition comprising at least one silicone polymer and at least one filler comprising at least one organo-neutralized diatomaceous earth, wherein the at least one organo-neutralized diatomaceous earth comprises at least one surface acidic site at least partially neutralized by at least one basic organic compound.
94 . The composition according to claim 93 , wherein the at least one basic organic compound comprises at least one basic group chosen from the group consisting of amines, amino ethers, alkanolamines, aminosilanes, ethyleneamines, and aminoesters.
95 . The composition according to claim 93 , wherein the at least one basic organic compound is alkanolamine aminomethylpropanol (AMP).
96 . The composition according to claim 93 , wherein the at least one basic organic compound is added in an amount greater than 0.25% relative to the total weight of the diatomaceous earth.
97 . The composition according to claim 93 , wherein the organo-neutralized diatomaceous earth is present in an amount ranging from about 1 to about 200 phr in the composition.
98 . The composition according to claim 93 , wherein the Shore A hardness ranges from about 55 to about 90.
99 . The composition according to claim 93 , wherein the tensile strength ranges from about 1000 to about 1200 psi.