Crosslinkable Rubber Composition

Elastomers can be crosslinked by a number of techniques as described by A. Coran in "Science and Technology of Rubber" Chapter 7. Most elastomers are cured using sulfur or peroxide vulcanization although curatives such as phenolic resins, quinone derivatives, maleimide derivatives and metal oxides can also be employed in the crosslinking reaction.

A novel crosslinking reaction was reported in Kautschuk Gummi Kunststoffe 8/83 which discloses a cure system consisting of the adduct of a diisocyanate with nitrosophenol. In this cure system, the nitrosophenol is released at cure temperature and reacts with the elastomer. Crosslinking occurs when the diisocyanate reacts with functionality on the polymer bound nitrosophenol. This blocked isocyanate curative is incorporated in a step separate from the polymerization.

Polymer bound isocyanates have been used as part of a curing package of acrylate polymers. European Patent Application Publication No. 130,322 discloses that acrylate polymers containing m-isopropenyl .alpha.,.alpha.-dimethyl benzylisocyanate (TMI) can be cured and that the polymers can be used in coating applications. U.S. Pat. No. 4,694,057 discloses that elastomers containing small amounts of 1-(1-isocyanato-1-methylethyl)-3-(1-methylethenyl)- benzene (TMI) can be crosslinked by utilizing difunctional or polyfunctional active hydrogen compounds. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,694,057 discloses that elastomers which are difficult to cure with sulfur or sulfur containing compounds, such as polychloroprene, can be cured utilizing such a technique. However, neither the teachings of European Patent Publication No. 130,322 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,694,057 suggest any advantage that can be realized by blocking the isocyanate groups in the elastomer. In fact, neither of the subject references disclose the possibility of curing such compounds which contain blocked isocyanate groups. Problems associated with premature crosslinking have hindered the commercial development of cure systems which rely on crosslinking through unblocked isocyanate groups in elastomers.

This invention discloses a technique for curing rubber compositions which does not rely upon sulfur or sulfur containing compounds. The cure systems of the subject invention rely upon the reaction between a blocked isocyanate group and an active Zerewitinoff hydrogen atom. The utilization of the process of this invention accordingly results in a urethane or urea type cure. One benefit realized by utilizing the process of this invention is that premature crosslinking of the elastomer is generally not a significant problem if the appropriate blocking group is used.

The subject invention more specifically discloses a rubber composition which can be crosslinked by heating which is comprised of (1) at least one rubber having pendant blocked isocyanate groups bound thereto; and (2) at least one compound which contains at least 2 Zerewitinoff active hydrogens.

The subject invention also reveals a rubber composition which can be crosslinked by heating which is comprised of (1) at least one rubber having Zerewitinoff active hydrogens bound thereto: and (2) at least one compound having at least 2 blocked isocyanate groups bound thereto.

The subject further discloses a rubber composition which can be crosslinked by heating which is comprised of polymer chains having (1) pendant blocked isocyanate groups bound thereto; and (2) Zerewitinoff active hydrogens bound thereto.

There are different requirements for each of the previous approaches. In all cases the polymer must not undergo premature crosslinking during the polymer drying step or when the polymer is mixed with other ingredients necessary for good elastomeric compounds. These polymers are generally prepared by an emulsion process and must be coagulated and dried. In commercial operations, emulsion polymers are dried at 200-230.degree. F. for approximately 45 minutes. This polymer is then mixed with carbon black in a non-productive mix at 300-330.degree. F. for 1-3 minutes. The curative is added to the rubber from the non-productive mix in a productive mix at 220.degree. F. Thus, polymers containing the blocked isocyanate functionality cannot undergo extensive deblocking at drying conditions or during the non-productive mix or the material will become unworkable. In the case where the polymer contains the Zerewitinoff active hydrogen, premature vulcanization is not a problem. The blocked isocyanate compound curative must only be stable to the productive mix which takes place at 220.degree. F for 1-2 minutes.

The following reaction depicts the curing of a rubber having pundant blocked isocyanate groups bound thereto with a purative which contains two Zerewitinoff active hydrogent. In the first step of the reaction, the blocking agent represented as X is removed from the isocyanate group by the action of heat as follows: ##STR1## wherein P represents polymer chains of the rubber. In the second sage of the curing reaction, the curative containing two active Zerewitinoff hydrogens reacts with the free isocyanate groups on two different polymer chains of the rubber being cured. This reaction is depicted as follows: ##STR2## wherein A represents an alkylene group or an arylene group. The same basic reactions are utilized in curing rubbers having active Zerewitinoff hydrogens bound thereto with curatives containing at least two blocked isocyanate groups. In such reactions, the heat utilized to cure the rubber causes the blocking group to be removed thereby creating a free isocyanate group which is then available to react with active Zerewitinoff hydrogens on the rubber. Similarly, identical reactions take place wherein the rubber being cured contains both pendant blocked isocyanate groups and active Zerewitinoff hydrogen atoms. In such cases, it is, of course, not necessary to utilize a separate curative. In other words, rubbers which contain both pendant blocked isocyanate groups and Zerewitinoff active hydrogen atoms have a built in cure package.

Rubbers having pendant blocked isocyanate groups bound thereto can be prepared utilizing a wide variety of techniques. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,429,096 discloses a process wherein the isocyanate group on meta-TMI is blocked with a cationic carbamic structure and then polymerized into a polymer. The technique disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,429,096 is highly suitable for preparing rubbers having pendant blocked isocyanate groups which can be utilized in accordance with the process of this invention. U.S. Pat. No. 4,604,439 also discloses a technique for incorporating blocked TMI into polymers utilizing emulsion polymerization. The teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 4,429,096 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,604,439 are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. U.S. Pat. No. 4,694,057 discloses a technique for polymerizing unblocked TMI into rubbers utilizing an emulsion polymerization technique. Such rubbers containing unblocked TMI can be blocked by reacting the rubber containing unblocked TMI with an appropriate blocking agent. In fact, any rubber containing pendant unblocked isocyanate groups can be blocked by reacting the unblocked isocyanate groups thereon with an appropriate blocking agent.

A wide variety of compounds can be utilized to block isocyanate groups in accordance with the process of this invention. Some representative examples of suitable compounds for utilization as blocking agents include phenols, oximes, caprolactam, pyrrolidone, mercaptans and .beta.-keto esters. Blocking agents which can be utilized are discussed in greater detail in Z. Wicks, Journal of Coatings Technology, "Progress in Organic Coatings", Vol. 5, page 73 (1975) and Z. Wicks, Journal of Coatings Technology, "Progress in Organic Coatings", Vol. 9, page 3 (1981), which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

The blocking agents which are preferred for utilization in the process of this invention include alcohols, cyclic amides, ketoximes, phenols, and secondary amines. The cyclic amides which can be utilized typically have the structural formula: ##STR3## wherein n is an integer from 2 to about 10. It is normally preferred for n to be an integer from 3 to 5. Caprolactam which has the structural formula: ##STR4## and a deblocking temperature which is within the range of about 110.degree. C. to about 140.degree. C. and 2-pyrrolidone which has the structural formula: ##STR5## and a deblocking temperature which is within the range of about 160.degree. C. to about 190.degree. C. are highly preferred blocking agents.

The ketoximes which can be utilized as blocking agents typically have the structural formula: ##STR6## wherein R represents an alkyl group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and wherein R' represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms. Phenol and substituted phenols can also be utilized as the blocking agent. The secondary amines which can be utilized as blocking agents typically have the structural formula:

wherein R represents an aryl group and wherein R.varies. represents an aryl or an alkyl group.

A rubber having pendant blocked isocyanate groups bound thereto wherein 2-pyrrolidone is utilized as the blocking agent is depicted as follows: ##STR7## wherein P represents polymer chains of the rubber. 2-pyrrolidone is a particularly valuable blocking agent because it has a deblocking temperature which is within the range of about 160.degree. C. to about 190.degree. C. When the blocked isocyanate is heated to the deblocking temperature, the blocking group is released exposing the free isocyanate. The free isocyanate then undergoes the curing reaction. In cases where the isocyanate is not blocked, premature crosslinking reactions occur making processing of the elastomer difficult if not impossible. Different blocking groups can be employed depending on what processing and curing temperatures are desired. If the rubber is processed at temperatures higher than the deblocking temperature, premature crosslinking or scorch of the rubber will occur. The higher the deblocking temperature is, the more latitude there is in processing of the rubber but cure temperatures must, of course, be higher in order for deblocking and subsequent crosslinking to occur. As the deblocking temperature is lowered, the rubber must be processed more gently but can be effectively cured at a lower temperature. Thus, the deblocking group can be chosen to give the optimal mix of scorch safety and cure temperature. The deblocking temperature of 2-pyrrolidone has been found to be very good in some applications. The deblocking temperature of caprolactam is somewhat lower but can also be used effectively as a blocking agent in curing some rubber compounds.

Zerewitinoff active hydrogen is reactive as determined by the Zerewitinoff method as described in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol. 49, page 3181 (1927). The Zerewitinoff active hydrogen will typically be present in a hydroxyl group, amine group, carboxyl group or thiol group. Zerewitinoff hydrogens which are present in hydroxyl groups are the most highly preferred. Zerewitinoff hydrogen atoms which are present in amine groups are also very good. However, amines react very readily with isocyanate groups which results in a very fast rate of cure. In fact, the rate of cure attained utilizing amines as the source of Zerewitinoff active hydrogen atoms can be too fast. The Zerewitinoff hydrogen present in carboxyl groups is far less active and promotes a much slower rate of cure. For this reason, carboxyl groups are not a preferred source of Zerewitinoff active hydrogen. The optimum rate of cure is believed to be attained when hydroxyl groups are utilized as the source of Zerewitinoff active hydrogen. Curatives can be utilized which contain at least two Zerewitinoff active hydrogen atoms. These compounds will typically have boiling points which are above the cure temperature of the rubber composition. In cases where the curative contains at least two blocked isocyanate groups, the blocking groups will also have a boiling point which is above the cure temperature utilized in crosslinking the rubber composition.

Catalysts can be utilized in order to accelerate the reaction between the Zerewitinoff active hydrogen and isocyanate groups. Such catalysts are of particular importance in cases where the blocking agent has a very high deblocking temperature. For instance, the utilization of such catalysts is of particular value in cases where 2-pyrrolidone is utilized as the blocking agent. Catalysts capable of speeding up both the deblocking reaction and the reaction of the free isocyanate groups with the Zerewitinoff active hydrogen can be utilized. For example, tin salts, bismuth compounds, mercury compounds, tertiary amines, iron acetyl acetonate, cobalt acetyl acetonate and nickel acetyl acetonate can be utilized as the catalyst. Tin salts such as dibutyltin dilaurate, dimethyltin dilaurate, dibutyltin diacetate, and dimethyltin diacetate are most preferred. Dialkyltin sulfides are also highly preferred catalysts.

The rubber compositions of this invention will typically contain from about 0.001 moles to about 0.4 moles of blocked isocyanate groups per 100 grams of polymer. The rubber compositions of this invention will preferably contain from about 0.005 moles to about 0.1 moles of blocked isocyanate groups per 100 grams of polymer. Such rubber compositions will more preferably contain from about 0.01 to about 0.03 moles of blocked isocyanate groups per 100 grams of rubber. The rubber compositions of this invention will typically have a molar ratio of Zerewitinoff active hydrogen atoms to blocked isocyanate groups of at least about 0.5:1. Such rubber compositions will typically have a ratio of Zerewitinoff active hydrogen atoms to blocked isocyanate groups which is within the range of about 0.6:1 to about 2:1. The ratio of Zerewitinoff active hydrogen atoms to blocked isocyanate groups in the rubber composition will preferably be within the range of about 0.7:1 to about 1.4:1. More preferably, the ratio of Zerewitinoff active hydrogen atoms to blocked isocyanate groups will be within the range of about 0.8:1 to about 1.2:1. However, it should be noted that a very substantial excess of Zerewitinoff active hydrogen atoms over the amount of blocked isocyanate groups present typically is not detrimental in rubbers containing both pendant blocked isocyanate groups and Zerewitinoff active hydrogen atoms.

In general, the elastomer containing one or both polymer bound curatives can be compounded using classical rubber compounding technology such as given by Long in his book "Basic Compounding and Processing of Rubber". There are several advantages associated with using the technology disclosed in the instant invention. In typical rubber formulations, sulfur, and at least one accelerator is commonly used to affect the cure. To activate the sulfur, zinc oxide and stearic acid are usually employed. In the cure system of the instant invention, one or both of the curatives is attached to the polymer. Thus, the total number of ingredients that must be added to the compound may be less with the instant invention than with a conventional sulfur cure. This leads to greater product uniformity because there are fewer items to weight and potentially fewer places to misweigh ingredients in the compounding step. Additionally, the non-sulfur crosslinks may have better stability to aging than the sulfur crosslinks.

The following examples are merely for the purpose of illustration and are not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the invention or the manner in which it can be practiced. Unless specifically indicated otherwise, parts and percentages are given by weight.

General Recipes and Procedures for

Two types of functionally substituted NBR rubbers (nitrile rubbers) were prepared for cure via urethane chemistry. One contained monomer units of caprolactam/TMI (C/T) adduct: ##STR8##

The other contained units of .beta.-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). The C/T monomer is a white crystalline compound having a melting point of 59-62.degree. C. The same general redox recipe was used for copolymerization of both of these compounds into NBR and is shown in Table I as Recipes A and B.

The polymerizations were run in quart bottles at 65.degree. F. After reaching the desired conversion level, the polymerizations were shortstopped with an aqueous solution containing 0.3 parts of sodium dimethyl dithiocarbamate and 0.04 parts of N,N-diethylhydroxylamine.

NBR/caprolactam/TMI adduct copolymer productive stocks were prepared by blending all the components listed below in an unheated Brabender in a one pass mix. The mixes were blended for about 7 minutes at 80 rpm. The maximum temperature developed during mixing were between 220-223.degree. F. (104-106.degree. C.). The blended stock was cured in a hydraulic press in strip molds using the conditions used in Table III.

In one instance, DIXIE was used as a chain transfer agent for copolymerization of C/T. In the others a tertiary aliphatic mercaptan containing from 12 to 14 carbon atoms (Sulfole.TM. 132) was used as the chain transfer agent for copolymerization of either C/T or HEMA monomers. Data relating to the monomer charge level or polymerization time on the degree of monomer incorporation are indicated in Table II.

Portions of NBR copolymers to be analyzed were prepared by coagulation of latex into isopropyl alcohol, washing small pieces of coagulum twice each successively with deionized water and isopropyl alcohol and vacuum drying.

C/T content of NBR copolymers was determined by nmr analysis of perdeutero acetone solutions on the basis of aromatic C-H bond content. C/T content of other copolymers was calculated on the basis of infrared transmittance data. A known concentration of copolymer was analyzed and the carbonyl absorption at 1706 cm.sup.-1 was compared to a calibration curve.

The HEMA segmer content of NBR copolymers was determined by acetylation of a toluene solution of polymer with an acetic anhydride/pyridine mixture and titrating the residual acetic anhydride.

All of the rubbers made in runs 1-9 were soluble in both methyl ethyl ketone and toluene.

NBR/HEMA copolymers from runs 7 and 8 of Table II were similarly compounded and cured using different levels of a caprolactam-blocked diisocyanate with the structure: ##STR9## under varying cure conditions. Physical properties obtained by cures are indicated respectively in Tables III and IV.

The data of Tables III and IV illustrate several features of the vulcanization process. Use of diisopropyl xanthogen disulkfide as a chain transfer agent leads to porous vulcanizates (Compound A). This is probably caused by elimination of carbon oxysulfide from the ends of the polymer chain. Also, vulcanizates can be obtained by either binding the blocked isocyanate to the rubber and curing with a diol (Compounds B-F), or by binding the alcohol functionality to the polymer and curing with a blocked isocyanate (Compounds G-H).

Table V gives the properties of an SBR containing hydroxypropyl methacrylate.

The emulsion was polymerized in the absence of oxygen at 50.degree. F. (10.degree. C). After polymerizing the emulsion for 8 hours, 68% of the monomer charge was converted. A 10% aqueous solution containing 0.3 parts of sodium dimethyldithiocarbamate and 0.04 parts of N,N-diethyl hydroxylamine was added to shortstop the reaction. 2.0 parts per hundred monomer of a 50% emulsion of Wingstay.RTM. C. (a commercial antioxidant) was added to stabilize the rubber to drying. The emulsion was coagulated and dried at 150.degree. F. (66.degree. C.) in a circulating air oven. The rubber contained 4.1% bound hydroxypropyl methacrylate.

The rubber was vulcanized in the following recipes:

The data from compounds I-K illustrate that the concept of curing rubber containing Zerewitinoff active hydrogens with blocked diisocyanates is applicable to SBR (styrene-butadiene rubber) as well as nitrile rubber.

The polymerizations were shortstopped by addition of an aqueous solution of dimethyldithiocarbamate and diethylhydroxylamine. After excess monomers were removed by steam stripping, 0.5 phr Wingstay.RTM. L/0.5 phr triarylphosphite dispersion was added to the latex. The latex was coagulated and dried in a circulating air oven at 140-150.degree. F. (60-66.degree. C).

The rubbers were compounded in the following formulations:

Thus, the data in Table VI indicate that polymers containing both the blocked isocyanate and the hydroxyl group can be vulcanized without the addition of any further curatives.

In this experiment a self-stabilized styrene-butadiene rubber containing both blocked isocyanate functionalities and hydroxyl functionalities was synthesized. The redox recipe utilized in the polymerization contained the following ingredients (shown in parts by weight):

as an activator system:

The emulsion made was polymerized in the absence of oxygen at 65.degree. F. (18.5.degree. C.). After allowing the polymerization to continue for 9.5 hours, 75% of the monomer charge was converted. A 10% aqueous solution containing 0.3 parts of sodium dimethyldithio carbamate and 0.04 parts of N,N-diethylhydroxyl amine was added to shortstop the reaction. The emulsion was coagulated and dried at 150.degree. F. (66.degree. C.) in a circulating air oven. The resulting dried polymer was soluble in methylene chloride and chloroform. Infrared analysis of a solution cast film of the polymer indicated that it contained hydroxyl, blocked isocyanate and antioxidant functionalities.

In this experiment an additional self-stabilized styrene-butadiene rubber containing both blocked isocyanate functionalities and hydroxyl functionalities was made. The emulsion utilized in the polymerization contained the following ingredients (shown in parts by weight):

as an activator system:

The emulsion was polymerized in the absence of oxygen at 65.degree. F. (18.5.degree. C). After 3 hours of polymerization time, 75% of the monomer charge was converted to polymer. A 10% aqueous solution containing 0.3 parts of sodium dimethyldithiocarbamate and 0.04 parts of N,N-diethylhydroxylamine was added to shortstop the polymerization. The latex was coagulated and air dried at 150.degree. F. (66.degree. C). Infrared analysis of a cast film of the polymer indicated the inclusion of hydroxyl, blocked isocyanate, and N,N-anilinophenyl methacrylamide functionalities.

While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention.