Alloy blends of polyurethane and latex rubber
View Patent ↗Disclosed herein are barrier articles of polyurethane blends or alloys that limit the permeability of gases there through, particularly as used in inflatable sports articles and more particularly as used in soccer balls.
1. A soccer ball containing a bladder comprising a film made from a formulation comprising an aqueous dispersion; the aqueous dispersion comprising
an unsaturated polyurethane, at least a portion of which comprises at least one anionic, cationic, allyl, or vinyl group; and
latex comprising an elastomeric polymer;
the unsaturated groups of the polyurethane being capable of chemically bonding with the latex; wherein the film has an air permeability not greater than 3.5×10 −5 cm 3 -cm/m 2 -hour-Pa at 25° C. and wherein said air permeability is calculated as:
(
Flow
rate
of
air
in
cm
3
/
hour
)
×
(
Thickness
of
film
in
cm
)
(
Permeation
area
of
film
in
m
2
)
×
(
Pressure
differential
across
film
in
Pa
)
wherein a pressure differential of 50 psig is maintained during measurement.
2. The soccer ball of claim 1 ,wherein the polyurethane is derived from a polyether glycol.
3. The soccer ball of claim 2 , wherein the polyether glycol is derived from a polytetramethylene ether glycol, polypropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polyethylene-polytetramethylene copolymer glycol, or polyethylene-propylene copolymer glycol.
4. The soccer ball of claim 3 , wherein the polyether glycol is derived from polyethylene-polytetramethylene copolymer glycol.
5. The soccer ball of claim 1 , wherein the polyurethane is derived from a polyester glycol.
6. The soccer ball of claim 1 , wherein the formulation comprises at least 10% by weight of polyurethane (dry weight basis).
7. The soccer ball of claim 1 , wherein the formulation comprises at least 40% by weight of polyurethane (dry weight basis).
8. The soccer ball of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric polymer is selected from the group consisting of styrene-butadiene, styrene-isoprene, and polyacrylates.
9. An inflatable article comprising a film made from a formulation comprising an aqueous dispersion; the aqueous dispersion comprising
an unsaturated polyurethane, at least a portion of which comprises at least one anionic, cationic, allyl, or vinyl group; and
latex comprising an elastomeric polymer;
the unsaturated groups of the polyurethane being capable of chemically bonding with the latex; wherein the film has an air permeability not greater than 3.5×10 −5 cm 3 cm/m 2 hour Pa at 25° C. wherein said air permeability is calculated as:
(
Flow
rate
of
air
in
cm
3
/
hour
)
×
(
Thickness
of
film
in
cm
)
(
Permeation
area
of
film
in
m
2
)
×
(
Pressure
differential
across
film
in
Pa
)
wherein a pressure differential of 50 psig is maintained during measurement.
10. The inflatable article of claim 9 , wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of inflatable balls and inner tubes.
11. The inflatable article of claim 9 , wherein the film is made by casting on a flat plate followed by extraction of the set film and drying.
12. The inflatable article of claim 9 , wherein the polyurethane is derived from a polyether glycol.
13. The inflatable article of claim 12 , wherein the polyether glycol is derived from a polytetramethylene ether glycol, polypropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polyethylene-polytetramethylene copolymer glycol, or polyethylene-propylene copolymer glycol.
14. The inflatable article of claim 13 , wherein the polyether glycol is derived from polyethylene-polytetramethylene copolymer glycol.
15. A soccer ball containing a bladder comprising a film made from a formulation comprising an aqueous dispersion; the aqueous dispersion comprising
polyurethane, at least a portion of which has unsaturated groups; and
latex;
the unsaturated groups of the polyurethane being capable of chemically bonding with the latex; the film having an air permeability not greater than 3.5×10 −5 cm 3 cm/m 2 hour Pa at 25° C. wherein said air permeability is calculated as:
(
Flow
rate
of
air
in
cm
3
/
hour
)
×
(
Thickness
of
film
in
cm
)
(
Permeation
area
of
film
in
m
2
)
×
(
Pressure
differential
across
film
in
Pa
)
wherein a pressure differential of 50 psig is maintained during measurement, and wherein the latex comprises at least one of polyisoprene, polybutadiene and blends of polyisoprene and polybutadiene.
16. The soccer ball of claim 15 , wherein the polyurethane is derived from a polyether glycol.
17. The soccer ball of claim 16 , wherein the polyether glycol is derived from a polytetramethylene ether glycol, polypropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polyethylene-polytetramethylene copolymer glycol, or polyethylene-propylene copolymer glycol.
18. The soccer ball of claim 17 , wherein the polyether glycol is derived from polyethylene-polytetramethylene copolymer glycol.
19. The soccer ball of claim 15 , wherein the polyurethane is derived from a polyester glycol.
20. The soccer ball of claim 15 , wherein the formulation comprises at least 10% by weight of polyurethane (dry weight basis).
21. The soccer ball of claim 15 , wherein the formulation comprises at least 40% by weight of polyurethane (dry weight basis).
22. An inflatable article comprising a film made from a formulation comprising an aqueous dispersion; the aqueous dispersion comprising
polyurethane, at least a portion of which has unsaturated groups; and
latex;
the unsaturated groups of the polyurethane being capable of chemically bonding with the latex; the film having an air permeability not greater than 3.5×10 −5 cm 3 cm/m 2 hour Pa at 25° C. wherein said air permeability is calculated as:
(
Flow
rate
of
air
in
cm
3
/
hour
)
×
(
Thickness
of
film
in
cm
)
(
Permeation
area
of
film
in
m
2
)
×
(
Pressure
differential
across
film
in
Pa
)
wherein a pressure differential of 50 psig is maintained during measurement, and wherein the latex comprises at least one of polyisoprene, polybutadiene and blends of polyisoprene and polybutadiene.
23. The inflatable article of claim 22 , wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of inflatable balls and inner tubes.
24. The inflatable article of claim 22 , wherein the film is made by casting on a flat plate followed by extraction of the set film and drying.
25. The inflatable article of claim 22 , wherein the polyurethane is derived from a polyether glycol.
26. The inflatable article of claim 25 , wherein the polyether glycol is derived from a polytetramethylene ether glycol, polypropylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polyethylene-polytetramethylene copolymer glycol, or polyethylene-propylene copolymer glycol.
27. The inflatable article of claim 26 , wherein the polyether glycol is derived from polyethylene-polytetramethylene copolymer glycol.