Polymer composition comprising inorganic particulate filler
An inorganic particulate material such as diatomaceous earth, a polymer composition comprising a polymer and the inorganic particulate material and an article or product formed from said composition, use of the inorganic particulate material such as diatomaceous earth as a filler in a composition comprising a polymer, and a method of making a polymer composition and an inorganic particulate material.
1. A polymer composition comprising a polymer and particles of ground diatomaceous earth, wherein the particles of ground diatomaceous earth have a surface area equal to or greater than about 30 m 2 g −1 , wherein:
(a) at least about 90 vol % of the particles of ground diatomaceous earth are smaller than about 5 μm;
(b) at least about 50 vol % of the particles of ground diatomaceous earth are smaller than about 2 μm;
(c) at least about 20 vol % of the particles of ground diatomaceous earth are smaller than about 1 μm; and
(d) at least about 10 vol % of the particles of ground diatomaceous earth are smaller than about 0.5 μm.
2. The polymer composition of claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises a rubber, the rubber comprising a styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) and/or an epoxidized natural rubber (ENR).
3. The polymer composition of claim 1 , wherein the particles of ground diatomaceous earth have a surface area equal to or greater than about 40 m 2 g −1 .
4. The polymer composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition has a tensile strength equal or greater than about 12 MPa.
5. The polymer composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition has an elongation at break equal to or greater than about 815%.
6. The polymer composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition has a tear strength equal to or greater than about 30 N/mm.
7. The polymer composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition has an abrasion resistance less than or equal to about 350 mm 3 volume loss.
8. A method of making a composition, comprising:
obtaining particles of ground diatomaceous earth having a surface area equal to or greater than about 30 m 2 g −1 wherein:
(a) at least about 90 vol % of the particles of ground diatomaceous earth are smaller than about 5 μm;
(b) at least about 50 vol % of the particles of ground diatomaceous earth are smaller than about 2 μm;
(c) at least about 20 vol % of the particles of ground diatomaceous earth are smaller than about 1 μm; and
(d) at least about 10 vol % of the particles of ground diatomaceous earth are smaller than about 0.5 μm; and
combining the particles of ground diatomaceous earth with a polymer.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the particles of ground diatomaceous earth are obtained by grinding a feed diatomaceous earth.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein work input is up to about 450 kwh/t.
11. A polymer composition comprising a polymer and particles of ground diatomaceous earth, wherein the particles of ground diatomaceous earth have a surface area equal to or greater than about 30 m e g −1 ;
wherein:
(a) at least about 90 vol % of the particles of ground diatomaceous earth are smaller than about 5 μm;
(b) at least about 50 vol % of the particles of ground diatomaceous earth are smaller than about 2 μm;
(c) at least about 20 vol % of the particles of ground diatomaceous earth are smaller than about 1 μm; and
(d) at least about 10 vol % of the particles of ground diatomaceous earth are smaller than about 0.5 μm;
wherein the composition has a tensile strength equal or greater than about 12 MPa; and
wherein the tensile strength is at least 10% greater than the tensile strength of a corresponding composition in which the particles of ground diatomaceous earth do not have a surface area equal to or greater than about 30 m 2 g −1 .
12. A polymer composition comprising a polymer and particles of ground diatomaceous earth, wherein the particles of ground diatomaceous earth have a surface area equal to or greater than about 30 m 2 g −1 ;
wherein:
(a) at least about 90 vol % of the particles of ground diatomaceous earth are smaller than about 5 μm;
(b) at least about 50 vol % of the particles of ground diatomaceous earth are smaller than about 2 μm;
(c) at least about 20 vol % of the particles of ground diatomaceous earth are smaller than about 1 μm; and
(d) at least about 10 vol % of the particles of ground diatomaceous earth are smaller than about 0.5 μm;
wherein the composition has an elongation at break equal to or greater than about 815%; and
wherein the elongation at break is at least about 5% greater than the elongation at break of a corresponding composition in which the particles of ground diatomaceous earth do not have a surface area equal to or greater than about 30 m 2 g −1 .
13. A polymer composition comprising a polymer and particles of ground diatomaceous earth, wherein the particles of ground diatomaceous earth have a surface area equal to or greater than about 30 m 2 g −1 ;
wherein:
(a) at least about 90 vol % of the particles of ground diatomaceous earth are smaller than about 5 μm;
(b) at least about 50 vol % of the particles of ground diatomaceous earth are smaller than about 2 μm;
(c) at least about 20 vol % of the particles of ground diatomaceous earth are smaller than about 1 μm; and
(d) at least about 10 vol % of the particles of ground diatomaceous earth are smaller than about 0.5 μm;
wherein the composition has a tear strength equal to or greater than about 30 N/mm; and
wherein the tear strength is at least about 10% greater than the tear strength of a corresponding composition in which the particles of ground diatomaceous earth do not have a surface area equal to or greater than about 30 m 2 g −1 .
14. A polymer composition comprising a polymer and particles of ground diatomaceous earth, wherein the particles of ground diatomaceous earth have a surface area equal to or greater than about 30 m 2 g −1 ;
wherein:
(a) at least about 90 vol % of the particles of ground diatomaceous earth are smaller than about 5 μm;
(b) at least about 50 vol % of the particles of ground diatomaceous earth are smaller than about 2 μm;
(c) at least about 20 vol % of the particles of ground diatomaceous earth are smaller than about 1 μm; and
(d) at least about 10 vol % of the particles of ground diatomaceous earth are smaller than about 0.5 μm;
wherein the composition has an abrasion resistance less than or equal to about 350 mm 3 volume loss; and
wherein the abrasion resistance is at least about 5% greater than the abrasion resistance of a corresponding composition in which the particles of ground diatomaceous earth do not have a surface area equal to or greater than about 30 m 2 g −1 .