Elastomer composite including algae biomass filler

• Main Author: Zeller, Mark Ashton
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 13.02.2024
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; BEER; BIOCHEMISTRY; CALCULATING; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON; COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; COMPUTING; COUNTING; CULTURE MEDIA; ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING; ELECTRICITY; ENZYMOLOGY; INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS; METALLURGY; MICROBIOLOGY; MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCESIN A PLASTIC STATE; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SPIRITS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHICCOMMUNICATION; TRANSPORTING; USE OF INORGANIC OR NON-MACROMOLECULAR ORGANIC SUBSTANCES ASCOMPOUNDING INGREDIENTS; VINEGAR; WINE; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

An algae-elastomer composite including an elastomer matrix; algae; and a mixing additive sufficient to achieve a desired property. The algae can be present in a milled condition having a particle size value of between about 10 and 120 microns. The algae is mixed with the elastomer matrix in a dry condition having a moisture content of below about 10%. A method of preparing the algae-based elastomer composite is provided that includes the steps of: premixing an elastomer matrix; adding an algae filler; adding a mixing additive that includes a plasticizer; forming an elastomer-algae blend by blending the algae and elastomer to a temperature sufficient to be further mixed, wherein the temperature is about 10° C. higher than the temperature sufficient for the elastomer alone; adding and mixing a curing or vulcanizing agent for the elastomer dispersing the elastomer-algae blend; and heating and curing the elastomer-algae blend into a final form.