Polymer-Clay Nanocomposite and Process for Preparing the Same

• Main Authors: WENG WEIQING, LOHSE DAVID J, STOKES JAMES P, STACHOWSKI III EDMUND J, VARADARAJ RAMESH, WEBB ROBERT N, BRONS CORNELIUS H, UPTON MOLLY W
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 13.10.2011
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F,C08G; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON; COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS RELATED TO TYRES; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; LAYERED PRODUCTS; LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT ORNON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; METALLURGY; NANOTECHNOLOGY; ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; REPAIRING, OR CONNECTING VALVES TO, INFLATABLE ELASTIC BODIESIN GENERAL; SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; TRANSPORTING; TYRE CHANGING OR REPAIRING; TYRE INFLATION; USE OF INORGANIC OR NON-MACROMOLECULAR ORGANIC SUBSTANCES ASCOMPOUNDING INGREDIENTS; VEHICLE TYRES; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; WORKING-UP

A process for producing a nanocomposite of a halogenated elastomer and an inorganic, exfoliated clay includes the in-situ protonation of a modifier, which may be an alkylamine, arylamine or an alkylarylamine. This process can be integrated with a polymer halogenation process. The nanocomposite so formed has improved air barrier properties and is suitable for use as a tire innerliner or innertube.