US 4,888,134 AGrant
Conductive Foams
Issue Date:1989-12-19
•12 Claims
Abstract
A conductive foam having a surface resistance of not more than 9.9.times.10.sup.10 ohms as measured by DIN 53,345 may be prepared by incorporating into the base compound at least about 5 parts by dry weight per 100 parts by weight of polymer of a dispersion of carbon black stabilized by a soap predominantly of the same type as that compatible with the process used to set the foam; and processing the compound in a conventional manner.
Metadata
Assignee
- BASF Aktiengesellschaft
Inventors
- Jean-Pierre Kleitz
- Piere H. A. Mertzeisen
Application Information
Application Number:US 2210509
Filing Date:1988-07-19
Priority Date:1986-06-02
Art Unit:115
Classifications
IPC:
H01B 106
Field of Search:
252521524500;506;502;51165;67;70495;496;910;911
Patent Drawings
This patent does not have any drawings.
Description
EXAMPLES
The following examples are intended to illustrate the invention and are not intended to limit the invention. In the examples, unless otherwise specified parts are parts by dry weight and in grams.
Example I
Two dispersions of carbon black were prepared on a high shear mixer with the following formulations.
The carbon black was furnace black and sold under the trade name Corax L. The final pH of the dispersion was 11. Two compounds were prepared with the following formulation.
The solids of the compound was 70 percent by weight and the viscosity of the compound was adjusted to about 3,000 cps with a sodium polyacrylate thickener. The compound was foamed to 300 g/1, to the foam were added from 9 parts to 15 parts by wet weight of a solution comprising 15 parts by wet weight of ammonium acetate, 5 parts ammonia as 27 percent solution and 80 parts of water. After adequate blending this foam was applied to a precoated tufted carpet. The foam was gelled for 1 minute under infrared heaters and subsequently dried and cured in a forced air oven at 150.degree. C. The foam was applied at a coat weight of about 900 g (wet)/m.sup.2. The experiments were carried out after the carbon black dispersion was made, at 1 week and 2 weeks after preparation of the carbon black dispersion. In all cases for gelling agent levels of 9 to 13 parts the foams were judged satisfactory and showed a smooth crack free surface. Under gelling occurred at less than 9 parts of gelling agent and over gelling occurred at over 13 parts of gelling agent. The concepts of under gelling and over gelling are well known in the industry.
The delamination strength of the carpet was tested. At 80 parts of filler the delamination strength was 15 newtons/5 cm (width). At 60 parts of filler the delamination strength was 22 newtons per 5 cm width. These values are considered suitable in the art. The foam surface resistance (R.sub.OT) and the through carpet resistance (R.sub.DT) of the carpet were measured according to DIN 53,3 The carpet was conductive with a resistance less than 10.sup.8 ohms.
Example II
Using the above formulations a series of foamed backed carpets were prepared containing various amounts of carbon black. The amount of potassium oleate was adjusted in the compound to remain constant at 4 parts by dry weight per 100 parts by dry weight of polymer. The carpet had conductive fiber (yarn) and was precoated with an antistatic precoat. The carpet samples were satisfactory in surface appearance and delamination strength. The surface resistance (R.sub.OT) and the resistance through the carpet were measured according to DIN 53,345 Part I. The results are recorded in Table II.
It was also found that the through-the-carpet resistance does not significantly increase if a standard (non conductive) precoat is used, which can offer an economic advantage and overcomes difficulties often associated with conductive precoats including the plasticizing effect of antistatic additives; poor water spotting resistance., slower drying and carbon black resurgency.
It is generally accepted in the carpet industry that a carpet having a surface (R.sub.OT) or through carpet resistance of less than about 10.sup.8 conductive. Thus about 6 to 7 parts by dry weight of carbon black are required per 100 parts of polymer gives a conductive foam in this formulation.
Example III
A further carbon black dispersion was prepared with the following formulation.
A basic compound was prepared as using the following formulation:
The compound was thickened to 2500 cps. The compound contained 10 parts carbon black per 100 parts by weight of polymer. The compound was foamed to 300 g/1 and an ammonium acetate/ammonia gelling system was added to the compound as described in Example I. The frothed compound was applied to a precoated conductive carpet at a coat weight of about 900 g (wet)/m.sup.2 on a pilot coater and dried. The resulting carpet had an acceptable backing and through the carpet, carpet surface and foam surface resistances of less than 10 .sup.8 ohms as measured by DIN 53,345.
Example IV
A carbon black dispersion having the following composition was prepared :
A compound having the following composition was prepared:
The compound was thickened with a polyacrylate thickener to 2500 cps. The compound was foamed to 300 g/1 and 5 ml of a 30 percent active dispersion of sodium silicofluoride was added per 100 g of wet compound. The foam was applied to the back of a carpet sample at a coat weight of about 900 g (wet)/m.sup.2 and gelled under infrared heaters for about 1 minute. The foam was then dried and cured. This gives an acceptable foam with a few very fine cracks. The above procedure was repeated except that the foam was gelled in a steam cabinet. This gave an excellent foam.
The samples prepared had through the carpet, carpet surface, and foam surface resistances, as measured by DIN 53,345 of less than 10.sup.8 ohms.
Example V
A carbon black dispersion of the following composition was prepared:
A compound of the following formulation was prepared:
The compound was thickened with a polyacrylate thickener to 2800 cps. The compound was then foamed to 300 g/1. A sample of the foam was drawn down on the back of a carpet at a coat weight of about 900 g (wet)/m.sup.2 and set under infrared heaters for one minute, then dried and cured. The resulting foam had an excellent quality. The carpet had a through the carpet, carpet surface and foam surface resistances of less than 10.sup.8 ohms when measured by DIN 53,345.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for the production in the absence of isocyanates of a conductive foam having a surface resistance of not more than 9.9.times.10.sup.10 ohms as measured by DIN #53,345, comprising: (i) preparing a compound comprising per 100 parts by dry weight of an aqueous emulsion of a rubbery polymer emulsified with a soap, up to 150 parts by weight of one or more particulate filters, selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, clay, talc, dolomite, barytes, aluminum trihydrate and glass microspheres; up to about 8 parts of a vulcanization paste; up to 10 parts by weight of a gelling agent and from 4 to 30 parts by dry weight of an aqueous emulsion containing up to 50 weight percent of carbon black emulsified with a soap; (ii) mechanically frothing said compound to a density from 80 to 600 g/1; (iii) forming said frothed compound to a desired shape; (iv) gelling said frothed compound; and (v) vulcanizing said frothed compound.
2. A process according to claim 1 wherein said aqueous emulsion of a rubbery polymer contains from about 40 to about 75 weight percent of one or more rubbery polymers selected from the group consisting of: (i) synthetic polymers comprising up to 50 weight percent of one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of C.sub.8-12 vinyl aromatic monomers which may be unsubstituted or substituted by a C.sub.1-4 alkyl radical or a chlorine or bromine atom; C.sub.1-4 alkyl and hydroxy alkyl acrylates; C.sub.1-4 alkyl and hydroxy alkyl methacrylates, and C.sub.2-6 alkenyl nitriles; and at least 50 weight percent of a C.sub.4-6 conjugated diolefin which may be unsubstituted or substituted by a chlorine atom; (ii) natural rubber; (iii a mixture of (i) or (ii) with not more than 20 weight percent of a polymer comprising not less than 60 weight percent of a C.sub.8-12 vinyl aromatic monomer which may be unsubstituted or substituted by a C.sub.1-4 alkyl radical or a chlorine or bromine atom., not more than 40 weight percent of a C.sub.4-6 conjugated diolefin; and from 0.5 to 5 weight percent of one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of C.sub.3-6 ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids; C.sub.3-6 ethylenically unsaturated aldehydes; C.sub.1-4 alkyl or hydroxy alkyl esters of C.sub.3-6 ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids and amides of C.sub.3-6 ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids which amides may be unsubstituted or substituted at the nitrogen atom by up to two members selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1-4 alkyl and C.sub.1-4 hydroxy alkyl radicals.
3. A process according to claim 2 wherein said soap is selected from the group consisting soaps of C.sub.8-20 saturated and unsaturated carboxylic acids and rosin acids.
4. A process according to claim 3 wherein said gelling agent is an alkali metal salt of silicofluoride and is present in an amount from 1 to 2 parts by weight.
5. A process according to claim 3 wherein said gelling agent is an admixture comprising: 0.1 to 4 parts by weight of ammonia or an ammonia releasing compound in the presence of up to 10 parts by weight of a zinc or cadmium ion.
6. A process according to claim 4 wherein said compound further comprises up to 3 parts by weight of a compound selected from the group consisting of ammonium sulphamate, ammonium sulphate, C.sub.1-4 amine sulphamates and C.sub.1-4 amine sulfates.
7. A process according to claim 5 wherein said compound further comprises up to 3 parts by weight of a compound selected from the group consisting of ammonium sulphamate, ammonium sulphate, C.sub.1-4 amine sulphamates and C.sub.1-4 amine sulfates.
8. A process according to claim 6 wherein said rubbery polymer is a copolymer of styrene and butadiene in a weight ratio from 20:80 to 40:60.
9. A process according to claim 7 wherein said rubbery polymer is a copolymer of styrene and butadiene in a weight ratio from 20:80 to 40:60.
10. A method for the production of a conductive foam having a surface resistance of not more than 9.9.times.10.sup.10 ohms as measured by DIN #53,345 comprising: (i) preparing a compound comprising per 100 parts by dry weight of an aqueous emulsion of a rubbery polymer emulsified with one or more synthetic emulsifiers selected from the group consisting of sulfosuccinamates, alkyl sulfates and alkyl sulfonates, up to 250 parts by weight of one or more particulate fillers selected from the group calcium carbonate, clay, talc, dolomite, barytes, aluminum trihydrate, and glass microspheres; up to 8 parts of a vulcanization paste and from 4 to 30 parts by dry weight of an aqueous emulsion of carbon black emulsified with one or more synthetic emulsifiers selected from the group consisting of sulfosuccinamate, C.sub.8-20 alkyl sulfates, and C.sub.8-20 alkyl sulfonates which contains up to 50 weight percent of carbon black; (ii) frothing said compound to a density from 80 to 600 g/1; (iii) spreading said compound over a substrate; (iv) setting said frothed compound, and (v) vulcanizing said frothed compound.
11. A process according to claim 10 wherein said aqueous emulsion of a rubbery polymer contains from about 40 to about 75 weight percent of one or more rubbery polymers selected from the group consisting of: (i) synthetic polymers of up to 50 weight percent of one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of C.sub.8-12 vinyl aromatic monomers which may be unsubstituted or substituted by a C.sub.1-4 alkyl radical or a chlorine or bromine atom; C.sub.1-4 alkyl and hydroxy alkyl acrylates; C.sub.1-4 alkyl and hydroxy alkyl methacrylates, and C.sub.2-6 alkenyl nitriles; at least 50 weight percent of a C.sub.4-6 conjugated diolefin which may be unsubstituted or substituted by a chlorine atom; (ii) natural rubber; (iii) a mixture of (i) or (ii) with not more than 20 weight percent of a polymer of not less than 60 weight percent of a C.sub.8-12 vinyl aromatic monomer which may be unsubstituted or substituted by a C.sub.1-4 alkyl radical or a chlorine or bromine atom, not more than 40 weight percent of a C.sub.4-6 conjugated diolefin; and from 0.5 to 5 weight percent of one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of C.sub.3-6 ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids; C.sub.3-6 ethylenically unsaturated aldehydes; C.sub.1-4 alkyl or hydroxy alkyl esters of C.sub.3-6 ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids and amides of C.sub.3-6 ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids which amides may be unsubstituted or substituted at the nitrogen atom by up to two members selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1-4 alkyl and C.sub.1-4 hydroxy alkyl radicals.
12. A process according to claim 10 wherein said rubbery polymer is a copolymer of styrene and butadiene in a weight ratio from 20:80 to 40:60.