CURATIVE
A curative for epoxidized plant-based oils and epoxidized natural rubber is created from the reaction between a naturally occurring polyfunctional acid and an epoxidized plant-based oil is disclosed. The curative may be used to produce porosity-free castable resins and vulcanize rubber formulations based on epoxidized natural rubber. Materials made from disclosed materials may be advantageously used as leather substitutes.
1 . A method of making an article configured as a sheet, said method comprising the steps of:
a. selecting a backing material;
b. applying an epoxidized natural rubber-based material to said backing material, said epoxidized natural rubber-based material comprising a mixture of a curative and an epoxidized natural rubber, wherein said curative includes a formed ester linkage between a hydroxyl-containing solvent and a naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid
c. applying a mechanical pressure to said epoxidized natural rubber-based material and said backing material; and,
d. allowing said epoxidized natural rubber-based material to cure.
2 . The method according to claim 1 wherein said mechanical pressure is further defined as being between 10 and 250 pounds per square inch.
3 . The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of applying said mechanical pressure is further defined as using a molding press.
4 . The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of positioning a texture paper adjacent said epoxidized natural rubber-based material prior to said step of applying said mechanical pressure to said epoxidized natural rubber-based material.
5 . The method according to claim 4 further comprising the step of positioning a silicone release sheet adjacent said texture paper.
6 . The method according to claim 1 wherein said backing material is further defined as a woven fabric.
7 . The method according to claim 1 wherein said backing material is further defined as a nonwoven fabric.
8 . An article comprising:
a. a first layer of an epoxidized natural rubber-based material comprising a mixture of a curative and an epoxidized natural rubber, wherein said curative includes a formed ester linkage between a hydroxyl group and a naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid; and,
b. a backing material positioned adjacent said first layer, wherein a portion of said first layer is adhered a portion of said backing material.
9 . The article according to claim 8 wherein said article is further defined as being produced via a relatively low-pressure molding process, wherein a pressure of between 10 and 250 pounds per square inch is applied to said first layer to impregnate said portion of said backing material.
10 . A method of affixing an epoxidized natural rubber-based material to a backing layer, said method comprising the steps of:
a. selecting a material for said backing layer;
b. applying said epoxidized natural rubber-based material to said backing layer, wherein said epoxidized natural rubber-based material comprises a mixture of a curative and an epoxidized natural rubber, wherein said curative includes a formed ester linkage between a hydroxyl-containing solvent and a naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid
c. applying a mechanical pressure to said epoxidized natural rubber-based material and said backing layer; and,
d. allowing said epoxidized natural rubber-based material to cure.
11 . The method according to claim 10 wherein said mechanical pressure is further defined as being between 10 and 250 pounds per square inch.
12 . The method according to claim 10 wherein said step of applying said mechanical pressure is further defined as using a molding press.
13 . The method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of positioning a texture paper adjacent said epoxidized natural rubber-based material prior to said step of applying said mechanical pressure to said epoxidized natural rubber-based material.
14 . The method according to claim 13 further comprising the step of positioning a silicone release sheet adjacent said texture paper.
15 . The method according to claim 10 wherein said backing material is further defined as a woven fabric.
16 . The method according to claim 10 wherein said backing material is further defined as a nonwoven fabric.
17 . The method according to claim 10 wherein said backing material is further defined as cotton.