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 at least one of six different materials, wherein each type of material may be configured as a thermosetting elastomer that is crosslinked with β-hydroxyester linkages. The materials may be configured as a leather-like material, a foam material, a molded elastomer, a coating, an adhesive, and/or a rigid or semi-rigid material. Illustrative articles made from any combination of the six materials may be recycled using a mechano-chemical process to de-crosslink the thermosetting elastomer.
1 . An article comprising:
a. a first material comprising a thermosetting elastomer that is crosslinked with β-hydroxyester linkages, wherein said first material is defined as being a leather-like material with a glass transition temperature generally below room temperature, wherein said first material is generally planar having a thickness between about 0.3 mm and 2.5 mm; and
b. a fifth material comprising said thermosetting elastomer that is crosslinked with β-hydroxyester linkages, wherein said fifth material is defined as being an adhesive material with a glass transition temperature generally below room temperature, wherein said fifth material has a thickness of 1 mm or less, and wherein said fifth material is bonded to said first material.
2 . The article according to claim 1 further comprising a second material, said second material comprising said thermosetting elastomer that is crosslinked with β-hydroxyester linkages, wherein said second material is defined as being a foam material with a glass transition temperature not greater than about 25 C and a density less than 0.7 g/cc, wherein said second material is bonded to said fifth material.
3 . The article according to claim 1 further comprising a fourth material, said fourth material comprising said thermosetting elastomer that is crosslinked with β-hydroxyester linkages, wherein said fourth material is defined as being a coating material with a glass transition temperature generally below room temperature, wherein said fourth material has a thickness from 10 to 100 microns, wherein said fourth material is bonded to said fifth material.
4 . The article according to claim 1 wherein a crosslinking with β-hydroxyester linkages of said thermosetting elastomer is effected using a reaction product between a naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid and an epoxidized triglyceride.
5 . The article according to claim 1 wherein said thermosetting elastomer is substantially the reaction product between a naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid and an epoxidized triglyceride.
6 . The article according to claim 1 wherein said thermosetting elastomer that is crosslinked with β-hydroxyester linkages is further defined as being capable of de-crosslinking of said β-hydroxyester linkages via a mechano-chemical process.
7 . The article according to claim 1 wherein said first material further comprises a backing layer bonded to said thermosetting elastomer.
8 . The article according to claim 7 wherein said backing layer is further defined as a fabric.
9 . An article comprising:
a. a first material comprising a thermosetting elastomer that is crosslinked with β-hydroxyester linkages, wherein said first material is defined as being a leather-like material with a glass transition temperature generally below room temperature, wherein said first material is generally planar having a thickness between about 0.3 mm and 2.5 mm; and,
b. a fourth material comprising said thermosetting elastomer that is crosslinked with β-hydroxyester linkages, wherein said fourth material is defined as being a coating material with a glass transition temperature generally below room temperature, wherein said fourth material has a thickness from 10 to 100 microns, and wherein said fourth material is bonded to said first material.
10 . The article according to claim 9 further comprising a second material, said second material comprising said thermosetting elastomer that is crosslinked with β-hydroxyester linkages, wherein said second material is defined as being a foam material with a glass transition temperature not greater than about 25 C and a density less than 0.7 g/cc, wherein said second material is bonded to said first material or said fourth material.
11 . The article according to claim 9 further comprising a third material, said third material comprising said thermosetting elastomer that is crosslinked with β-hydroxyester linkages, wherein said third material is defined as being a molded elastomer material with a glass transition temperature not greater than about 25 C, wherein said third material is three-dimensional in shape, wherein said third material is bonded to said first material or said fourth material.
12 . The article according to claim 9 further comprising a sixth material, said sixth material comprising said thermosetting elastomer that is crosslinked with β-hydroxyester linkages, wherein said sixth material is defined as being a rigid or semi-rigid material with a glass transition temperature generally greater than room temperature, wherein said sixth material is substantially non-crystalline in structure, wherein said sixth material is bonded to said first or said fourth material.
13 . The article according to claim 9 wherein a crosslinking with β-hydroxyester linkages of said thermosetting elastomer is effected using a reaction product between a naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid and an epoxidized triglyceride.
14 . The article according to claim 9 wherein said thermosetting elastomer is substantially the reaction product between a naturally occurring polyfunctional carboxylic acid and an epoxidized triglyceride.
15 . The article according to claim 9 wherein said thermosetting elastomer that is crosslinked with β-hydroxyester linkages is further defined as being capable of de-crosslinking of said β-hydroxyester linkages via a mechano-chemical process.
16 . The article according to claim 9 wherein said first material further comprises a backing layer bonded to said thermosetting elastomer.
17 . The article according to claim 16 wherein said backing layer is further defined as a fabric.
18 . The article according to claim 9 wherein said article is further defined as a footwear article.
19 . The article according to claim 9 wherein said article is further defined as a bag.
20 . The article according to claim 9 wherein said article is further defined as an upholstery covering.