FRICTION REDUCING COATINGS
An aqueous coating composition for reducing friction and/or blocking at a surface, said composition comprising a solid lubricant and a modified or synthetic clay mineral having thickening properties such that a 2% by weight aqueous dispersion of the modified or synthetic clay mineral thickener has a viscosity of at least 1000 mPa·s. Preferred clay minerals used as thickeners are preferably smectite clays such as saponite, hectorite, stevensite, sauconite, bentonite, beidellite, nontronite, or montmorillonite.
1 - 21 . (canceled)
22 . An air bag coated with an anti-blocking coating comprising solid lubricant and a modified or synthetic clay mineral having thickening properties such that a 2% by weight aqueous dispersion of the modified or synthetic clay mineral thickener has a viscosity of at least 1000 mPa·s.
23 . A process of coating a substrate to reduce friction and/or blocking, comprising: applying to the substrate an aqueous coating composition comprising a solid lubricant and a modified or synthetic clay mineral having thickening properties such that a 2% by weight aqueous dispersion of the modified or synthetic clay mineral thickener has a viscosity of at least 1000 mPa·s.
24 . The process according to claim 23 , wherein the substrate is a fabric.
25 . (canceled)
26 . The process according to claim 23 , wherein the solid lubricant is a phyllosilicate.
27 . The process according to claim 26 , wherein the solid lubricant is selected from mica, talc, kaolinite, sericite and chlorite.
28 . The process according to claim 23 , wherein the solid lubricant is present at 3 to 40% by weight of the aqueous coating composition.
29 . The process according to claim 23 , wherein the clay mineral thickener is saponite, bentonite or montmorillonite.
30 . The process according to claim 29 , wherein the clay mineral thickener is modified by a water soluble organic polymer.
31 . The process according to claim 30 , wherein the water soluble organic polymer contains carboxylate groups.
32 . The process according to claim 31 , wherein the water soluble organic polymer is sodium polyacrylate or sodium polymethacrylate.
33 . The process according to claim 31 , wherein the water soluble organic polymer is present at 0.1 to 40% by weight based on the clay mineral thickener.
34 . The process according to claim 23 , wherein the clay mineral thickener is modified by treatment with an alkylalkoxysilane.
35 . The process according to claim 23 , wherein the clay mineral thickener is artificial synthesized saponite.
36 . The process according to claim 23 , wherein the clay mineral thickener is present at from 0.2% to 5% by weight of the aqueous coating composition.
37 . The process according to claim 23 , wherein the aqueous coating composition further comprises an organic polymer binder present in aqueous dispersion or a silicone binder in the form of a silicone based aqueous emulsion.
38 . The process according to claim 37 , wherein the organic polymer binder comprises a polyurethane or acrylic-modified polyolefin present in aqueous emulsion.
39 . The process according to claim 23 , wherein the aqueous coating composition further comprises a flame retardant.
40 . The process according to claim 39 , wherein the flame retardant is aluminum trihydrate.
41 . The process according to claim 24 , further comprising coating the fabric with an organic resin prior to applying the aqueous coating composition to the fabric.
42 . The process according to claim 23 , further comprising curing the aqueous coating composition thereby preparing a top coat for reducing friction and/or blocking at the surface of the substrate.
43 . The process according to claim 42 , wherein the curing occurs at a temperature ranging from ambient temperature to 200° C.
44 . The process according to claim 23 , wherein the substrate is selected from airbag, airbag fabric, coated air bag or coated air bag fabric.
45 . The process according to claim 23 , wherein the applying occurs by roller application, curtain coating, spray, knife over roller.
46 . The process according to claim 23 , wherein the substrate is base-coated.
47 . The process according to claim 23 , wherein the coating weight of the aqueous coating composition is 0.5 to 15 g/m 2 .
48 . The air bag according to claim 22 , wherein the anti-blocking coating comprises 50 to 95% by weight solid lubricant, 2 to 15% by weight modified or synthetic clay mineral thickener, and up to 45% by weight organic polymer binder based on the dry weight of the anti-blocking coating.